BYU’s 2026 football schedule just hit a snag, and it’s a significant one. The Cougars are now on the lookout for a new nonconference opponent after their Week 2 matchup with Cal was officially taken off the board.
The cancellation affects more than just next season - it also wipes out the return leg of the home-and-home series scheduled for 2027 in Berkeley. This wasn’t a mutual parting of ways. Cal had to make a move, and BYU ended up being the odd team out.
So, what happened?
The Golden Bears are adjusting to life in the ACC, which is moving to a nine-game conference schedule starting next year. That extra in-league game means less room for nonconference matchups, and Cal had to cut one. With UCLA - a Big Ten opponent and longtime in-state rival - already locked into their schedule, BYU became the expendable piece.
That leaves BYU with just two nonconference games on the books for 2026: Utah Tech and Colorado State. Neither of those programs qualifies as a Power Four opponent, and that’s a problem for the Cougars.
The Big 12 mandates that each team schedules at least one Power Four nonconference game every season. With Cal out, BYU now has a hole to fill - and the clock is ticking.
The search is officially on for a replacement from the Big Ten, SEC, or ACC. That’s no small task this late in the scheduling game. Finding a willing partner with an open date, especially one that checks the Power Four box, is going to take some maneuvering.
This isn't just about finding a name opponent to satisfy a conference requirement. It’s about building a resume, especially in a college football landscape where strength of schedule matters more than ever. For BYU, a program that’s still carving out its place in the Big 12 hierarchy, these nonconference matchups are crucial opportunities to prove they belong in the national conversation.
So now, all eyes turn to BYU’s athletic department. Can they land a marquee matchup?
Will a fellow Power Four team be willing to dance on short notice? One thing’s for sure - the Cougars’ 2026 schedule just got a lot more interesting.