Utes usher in new era of Utah Football in 212 days
DALLAS – The new era for the University of Utah Football program will officially begin in 212 days as the Big 12 Conference announced game dates for the 2024 season today.
Utah kicks off the year on Thursday, Aug. 29 against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in Rice-Eccles Stadium, followed by a home non-conference battle against the Baylor Bears on Saturday, Sept. 7. The Utes wrap up their non-conference slate at Utah State on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Big 12 play will begin on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Oklahoma State in Boone Pickens Stadium with the Cowboys appearing in the conference championship game in two of the last three seasons. Utah will enter the 2024 season with a 445-260-19 (.627) all-time record in conference games with 28 conference championships.
Utah returns to Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, taking on the Arizona Wildcats, who finished the year ranked in the top-15 in all three postseason polls. The Utes are 26-20-2 all-time against Arizona, winning six of the last seven games in the series.
Utah heads into a BYE week on Oct. 5 followed by a road match-up against the Arizona State Sun Devils with the Utes on a four-game winning streak in the all-time series. The game date will be set by the league and TV networks as the season gets closer, with possibilities including Friday, Oct. 11 or Saturday, Oct. 12.
Old foes will collide in Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19 when the Utes host TCU. Utah is 5-3 against its old Mountain West opponent, including a memorable, come-from-behind victory for the Utes in 2008 inside Rice-Eccles Stadium (13-10).
Before heading into its second BYE week of the season (Nov. 2), Utah will travel to Houston, Texas, to take on the Houston Cougars on Saturday, Oct. 26. The Utes and Houston have only faced each other four times, but haven't battled since 1978.
Coming off the BYE, new and old rivals will meet with Utah hosting BYU for the first time in Rice-Eccles Stadium since 2018. The game, which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9, will mark the 102nd meeting between the two teams with Utah holding a 62-35-4 overall record and a 40-17-3 record in Salt Lake City.
What was known as the "Rumble in the Rockies" in years past, Utah will play Colorado in Boulder on Saturday, Nov. 16 before hosting the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, Nov. 23 for its final home game of the year. Utah has won the last seven meetings against the Buffaloes while the Utes and the Cyclones will meet for the first time since 2010 (W, 68-27).
Utah will finish up regular season play on Friday, Nov. 29 at UCF in Orlando, Florida. It will mark the first meeting between the two teams and Utah's second trip to the Sunshine State in the last three seasons.