The dust has barely settled on a wild 2025 season that saw the Utes haul in 11 wins and a Las Vegas Bowl trophy, but honestly, the Salt Lake City faithful are already looking toward the horizon. If you’ve spent any time around Rice-Eccles Stadium lately, you know the vibe. There’s a new era starting. Kyle Whittingham has finally passed the whistle to Morgan Scalley, and everyone is wondering if the "Scalley Era" can maintain that same defensive "Sack Lake City" identity while navigating a Big 12 schedule that is getting more chaotic by the minute.
You’ve probably seen the leaks or the preliminary lists, but the u of utah football schedule for 2026 is officially taking shape. It’s a mix of classic regional rivalries and some long-distance road trips that are going to test how well Utah fans travel. Basically, we’re looking at a year where the Utes aren't just the "new guys" in the Big 12 anymore—they're the hunted.
The 2026 Non-Conference Grind
The season kicks off with a Thursday night special on September 3rd against Idaho. It’s a classic tune-up game, but don’t expect the coaching staff to take it lightly; Scalley is going to want to make a statement in his first home opener as the official head man.
Then things get real. Arkansas comes to town on September 12th.
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This is the return leg of a series that has been circled on calendars for years. SEC teams coming to the altitude of Salt Lake City usually makes for great television and even better atmosphere. Following that, on September 19th, we get the "Battle of the Brothers" against Utah State. It’s a game that means everything to the folks in Logan and quite a bit to the local bragging rights here in the valley.
Big 12 Gauntlet: The Road and Home Splits
Once the non-conference stuff is out of the way, the Big 12 schedule hits like a ton of bricks. We don’t have every single kickoff time yet—the networks love to hold those hostage until six days before the game—but we know the locations.
The 2026 slate is heavy on historic road venues. Utah has to travel to:
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- Ames, Iowa: Iowa State fans are notorious for being loud regardless of the record.
- Cincinnati, Ohio: A long flight to Nippert Stadium, which is one of the more underrated "tight" environments in college football.
- Fort Worth, Texas: A showdown with TCU that feels like a throwback to the old Mountain West days.
- Boulder, Colorado: The "Rumble in the Rockies" is alive and well.
At home, the Utes are hosting some heavy hitters. We're looking at BYU (the Holy War is always the biggest date on the calendar), Houston, Kansas, and West Virginia. Having the Cougars come to Rice-Eccles in 2026 is a massive win for season ticket holders. After the 24-21 heartbreak in Provo during the 2025 season, the revenge factor is going to be through the roof.
Why the 2026 Schedule Matters for the Scalley Era
Transitioning from a legend like Whittingham to a protégé like Scalley isn't always seamless. Just look at what happened at other blue-chip programs over the last decade. However, the 2026 u of utah football schedule actually sets up fairly well for a first-year permanent head coach.
You get the three-game homestand to start the year. That’s huge for building chemistry. By the time the team hits the road for those tough Big 12 environments, the new starters should have their feet under them. The biggest hurdle? The lack of a true "off week" during the middle of the conference grind. In 2025, the Utes benefited from two bye weeks, but 2026 looks much more compressed.
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One thing most people get wrong about Utah is the "rebuilding" myth. Since 2018, this program hasn't rebuilt; it has reloaded. Even with losing key seniors from the 11-2 squad, the defensive line depth remains the envy of the Big 12. If the 2026 schedule favors anyone, it’s a team that can win in the trenches during cold November games in places like Ames or Salt Lake.
Ticket Trends and Game Day Reality
If you’re trying to find seats, good luck. The renewal rate for Utes season tickets is hovering near 98%, which is basically unheard of. For the 2026 season, the secondary market for the BYU and Arkansas games is already projected to be some of the most expensive in school history.
People aren't just coming for the football anymore; they're coming for the experience. The Big 12 has brought a different kind of energy—new fans, new traditions, and frankly, better tailgating.
Pro-tip for 2026: If you're eyeing that road trip to TCU or Cincinnati, book the flights now. The Big 12 travel footprint is massive, and those direct flights out of SLC fill up with red-clad fans faster than you'd think.
To stay ahead of the curve, you'll want to keep an eye on the official athletic department releases for the finalized "Date TBA" slots for the Big 12 games. Usually, these mid-winter updates settle the exact weekends for the October and November matchups. Your next move should be checking the Crimson Club portal if you're a member, as they get first crack at the away game ticket allotments which will be vital for those trips to Boulder and Fort Worth.