Utah’s Non-Conference Schedule Is Strong Over Next 12 Years
Feb 17, 2020, 11:54 AM
(Colter Peterson, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After the announcement that Utah and LSU have agreed to a home-and-home series with the first game taking place in Salt Lake City in 2031 and the return trip to Baton Rouge in 2032, the Utes’ non-conference schedule over the next decade-plus is very strong.
The Utes have scheduled 26 non-conference games between 2020-32 with six opponents from the SEC, two from the Big 12 and seven games against their rivals BYU.
With the Pac-12 playing 9 conference games, Utah has to be very selective in who they schedule in non-conference with only three such games each season.
Here is how Utah’s schedule is set in non-conference play between 2020-32.
Utah has one game to fill in 2027 and 2028 which will likely be an FCS team.
In 2026, Utah will face three quality teams and not face an FCS squad. (@ Houston, Arkansas, BYU)
— Trevor Allen (@TrevorASports) February 17, 2020
2020
Utah is all set for this upcoming season’s schedule beginning at home against BYU on Thursday, September 3. Then Utah will host Montana State before traveling to Wyoming to face an old Mountain West foe.
2021
This season is also set with two road games and an in-state FCS opponent at home to start the 2021 season. The Utes will face Weber State before traveling to BYU and San Diego State.
2022
This will be the first season that the Utes will face a Power-5 team in non-conference play during this next stretch of games. They will travel to Gainesville to face the Florida Gators led by former Utah assistant coach Dan Mullen and former Utes quarterback Brian Johnson who is coaching the QB’s for the Gators.
Utah will then return home for the final two non-conference games against Southern Utah and the return trip from the series with San Diego State.
2023
Utah will face two Power-5 teams in 2023’s non-conference schedule and will host an FCS team.
The Utes will host the second leg of the series with the Gators at Rice-Eccles Stadium followed by a home game against Weber State. Utah will wrap the non-conference slate in 2023 with the Baylor Bears.
2024
The Utes will not leave the friendly confines of Rice-Eccles Stadium in non-conference play in 2024. They will host Southern Utah, BYU and the return trip of the Baylor series.
2025
The Utes have one spot left open in non-conference play in 2025 which will likely be occupied by an FCS team. The Utes finally play the second leg of the Wyoming series at home and will travel to Provo to face BYU.
2026
This non-conference schedule on paper will be the most difficult during the decade. Utah will not face an FCS opponent but will have two games at home. The Utes will begin a home-and-home series with Houston in the Lonestar State before starting the series with Arkansas out of the SEC at home. The Utes will also face BYU at RES.
2027
Utah has one spot to fill in 2027 which will also likely be an FCS team. Utah will finish the series with Houston at home and will play BYU down in Provo.
2028
Like 2027, the Utes have one open spot in 2028. They will host BYU before traveling to Razorback country to face Arkansas to wrap the two-game series.
2029, 2030
Utah has not scheduled a non-conference game in 2029 and 2030.
2031
This will begin the home-and-home series with LSU. Utah has only scheduled the Tigers in their non-conference in 2031. Perhaps BYU will fill one of the vacancies.
2032
Utah will make the trip down to Baton Rogue to face LSU in the return trip of the series. Two spots are still open in their non-conference slate.
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