Everything changed when the Utes officially stepped into the Big 12. If you've been following the university of utah basketball schedule lately, you know it isn't the same old song and dance from the Pac-12 era. It’s harder. Much harder. We are currently sitting in the thick of the 2025-26 season, and the gauntlet Alex Jensen has to navigate is, frankly, brutal.
Honestly, people expected a transition period. But the Big 12 doesn't do "grace periods."
Looking at the calendar right now, we are staring down a mid-January stretch that defines "trial by fire." If you haven't been keeping a close eye on the dates, you're going to miss the biggest home stands and some pretty spicy road trips that are coming up fast.
The Mid-Season Grind: Navigating the January Gauntlet
The month of January is basically a survival test for this roster. We just came off a win against TCU on January 17, which was a massive "get right" game after a string of losses to ranked opponents like Arizona and BYU.
If you're planning your week, keep your Tuesday night open. On January 20, 2026, the Utes head to Manhattan to face Kansas State at Bramlage Coliseum. That's a 7:00 PM MT tip-off. If you’ve never seen a game in the "Octagon of Doom," it’s intense. It’s the kind of environment that rattles young teams.
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Then comes the big one.
January 24, 2026 is the Holy War on hardwood. The Utes travel south to Provo to take on BYU at the Marriott Center. Tip-off is set for 3:30 PM MT. We already lost a close one to them at home earlier this month (84-89), so this isn't just a schedule entry—it's a revenge mission.
After that road trip, the boys come back to Salt Lake City. You’ve got Oklahoma State visiting the Jon M. Huntsman Center on January 31 at 4:00 PM MT. It's a Saturday game. Perfect for a family outing or just hiding from the winter inversion for a few hours.
What’s Left on the University of Utah Basketball Schedule?
Once we flip the calendar to February, the schedule doesn't exactly get "easy." The Big 12 is a meat grinder. You’ve got the heavy hitters coming to town one after another.
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- February 4: Arizona State at the Huntsman (7:00 PM MT).
- February 7: A daunting trip to Lawrence to play Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse (12:30 PM MT).
- February 10: Houston comes to SLC (7:00 PM MT). This will be a defensive bloodbath.
- February 15: Road game at Cincinnati (10:00 AM MT).
- February 18: Road game at West Virginia (6:30 PM MT).
- February 21: UCF at home (7:00 PM MT).
- February 24: Iowa State at home (7:00 PM MT).
The season wraps up with a trip to Baylor on March 7 before the Big 12 Tournament kicks off in Kansas City on March 10.
Why the Non-Conference Slate Was So Weird
A lot of fans were scratching their heads back in November and December. Why play Purdue Fort Wayne or Cal Poly at home? Well, Coach Jensen needed to build chemistry. With a "new-look" roster featuring guys like Seydou Traore and Keanu Dawes, the early university of utah basketball schedule was designed to find a rhythm.
We saw some flashes of brilliance—like that 101-77 blowout against Eastern Washington. But we also saw the cracks when the Utes lost to Mississippi State at the Delta Center. It’s been a rollercoaster.
Survival Guide for Utes Fans
If you're actually going to these games, here's the deal. Parking at the Huntsman is still a nightmare, so take the TRAX. It’s free with your game ticket, and you won’t spend 45 minutes trying to exit a garage after a buzzer-beater.
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Also, pay attention to the TV listings. Most of these Big 12 games are buried on ESPN+, but the bigger matchups (like Kansas and Houston) will likely flex to ESPN or ESPN2. Don't be the person trying to find a stream five minutes after tip-off.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you need to do right now:
- Sync the Calendar: Go to the official Utah Athletics site and download the .ics file to your phone. Times change, and networks flex games all the time.
- Check Ticket Availability: The BYU game in Provo is likely sold out, but the Oklahoma State and Arizona State home games still have some upper-bowl seats.
- Watch the Standings: The Big 12 is tight. One win can move the Utes from 10th to 6th in the conference standings. Every game on this university of utah basketball schedule matters for NCAA Tournament seeding.
The Alex Jensen era is officially in high gear. Whether the Utes can survive this February run is yet to be seen, but the schedule is set, and the path to Kansas City is clear.