The University of Utah and BYU are scheduled to meet for a potential top 10 showdown on Saturday, Nov. 7, with a kickoff time set for 10 a.m. MT. The game, which will be broadcast on either ABC or ESPN, marks a significant departure from the typical primetime scheduling usually associated with the high-stakes rivalry.
Rankings and Series History
According to the University of Utah Athletics department, the No. 6 ranked Utes will host the No. 8 ranked Cougars at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The network designation for the broadcast will be determined following the games played on Oct. 31. This matchup represents the 104th meeting between the two programs and their third meeting as members of the Big 12 Conference.
Utah enters the rivalry game with a 7-0 record and a 4-0 record in Big 12 play, while BYU holds a 6-1 record and a 3-1 record in the conference. The all-time series advantage belongs to Utah, which holds a 62-37-4 record against the Cougars.
Scheduling and Broadcast Details
The 10 a.m. MT kickoff time has drawn attention due to the high stakes of the potential matchup. As BYU Football announced on Oct. 26, 2026, ESPN will decide whether to place the BYU-Utah game or the Texas-Missouri game in the 10 a.m. window on ABC. If both teams win their respective games this weekend, the matchup would qualify as a top 10 game.
This early time slot is a departure from the expected primetime window, a decision attributed to the Big 12 scheduling for the weekend of Nov. 7. That weekend features several high-profile college football matchups, including Notre Dame vs. Miami and SEC contests such as Alabama-LSU, Kentucky-Tennessee, Georgia-Ole Miss, and Oklahoma-Florida. In the Big Ten, Oregon and Ohio State are also scheduled to play.
Historical Context and Challenges
The 10 a.m. kickoff is a rare occurrence for this rivalry, the first time the two teams will play at that hour since a 1996 game where BYU defeated Utah 37-17. That 1996 contest also marked the last time BYU won a game against Utah by double digits.
For BYU, playing in an early morning slot presents unique challenges for home fans attempting to reach the stadium and establish a loud environment before the opening kickoff. BYU previously played a 10 a.m. local time game against Oklahoma in 2023, a game where the Cougars led wire-to-wire before a Jake Retzlaff pick-six resulted in an Oklahoma victory.
Utah Home Game Trends
The early kickoff also mirrors a recent trend for the Utah program. In the 2025 season, Utah played its largest home game against Texas Tech during a morning time slot, a game that resulted in a dominant victory for the Red Raiders. This will be the second consecutive season that Utah hosts its largest home game of the year in the morning.
Upcoming Schedule
Following the rivalry game, Utah is scheduled to travel to Cincinnati to face Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium. That game is set for a 1:45 p.m. MT kickoff and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Recent Team Performance
The University of Utah's recent performance includes a victory over No. 14 Houston, a game led by the defense and Dampier, which moved the Utes to a No. 10 ranking at that time. The team is currently ranked No. 6 entering their upcoming matchups.
