The Big 12 has laid out Utah’s road map for 2026-27, and the shape of it is pretty clear: the Utes will get a few chances to settle in early, then they’ll walk straight into one of the league’s toughest midseason runs.
For head coach Alex Jensen, year two comes with an 18-game conference slate that splits cleanly down the middle - nine home games and nine road games. Utah will play every other Big 12 opponent once, while BYU, Colorado and Oklahoma State are the three teams the Utes will see both home and away. The regular season wraps up March 6 at Colorado.
The early portion of the schedule gives Utah some breathing room before the pressure spikes. After starting conference play in Orlando, the Utes come home for Kansas on Jan. 6 and Cincinnati on Jan.
- That’s a useful pair of home dates before Utah turns around for back-to-back road games at Oklahoma State on Jan. 12 and BYU on Jan.
Then comes the stretch that stands out immediately.
From Jan. 26 through Feb. 16, Utah goes through seven games that stack quality opponents and difficult travel in a way that could define the season: at Arizona, Baylor, at Iowa State, BYU, Kansas State, at Houston and at TCU. Four of those seven are on the road, and the Utes don’t get much of a soft landing anywhere in that run.
That sequence has the feel of the schedule’s real hinge point. Even if Baylor or TCU ends up being less dangerous than expected, Utah could still be playing solid basketball and come out of that span with a few losses. That’s the section that could decide whether the Utes are just hanging around in the Big 12 or putting themselves in position for something bigger.
February, by contrast, looks far more manageable. From Feb. 20 through March 6, Utah gets Colorado, at Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and at Colorado.
Texas Tech is the clear heavyweight in that group, but the Utes get three of the five at home and avoid the league’s most intimidating road settings. Facing Colorado twice in a 15-day window also gives Utah some familiarity to work with, while Oklahoma State at home is the kind of game a strong team should expect to handle.
If Utah can get through the late-January and early-February grind without too much damage, the final five games give it a real shot to build momentum heading into the Big 12 tournament, which runs March 9-13.
Before conference play arrives, Utah’s nonconference schedule includes 12 home games. Washington visits on Nov. 14 and California comes in on Dec. 2, giving the Utes a pair of former Pac-12 opponents at the Huntsman Center.
Utah opens the season against Long Beach State on Nov. 2 and closes nonconference play against Air Force on Dec. 29.
The only regular-season games away from home before Big 12 play are at the Charleston Classic on Nov. 20 and 22.
In Other News...
Morgan Scalley Sees Something Bigger In Utahs 2-0 Start
Through two games, Morgan Scalley has liked what he has seen from Utah beyond the simple fact that the Utes are 2-0. The head coach pointed to cleaner execution, better work along the line of scrimmage and a style of play that has felt unselfish, with different players stepping up in ways that suggest the roster is settling into a rhythm early in the season.
Scalley also singled out the relationship between quarterbacks Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin, calling it an example of the kind of cooperative energy he wants around the program. Even so, he made clear that Utah is still in the early stages of figuring out just how good it can be, with that answer likely to come into focus only as the schedule gives the Utes more chances to show what this start really means. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Defense Is Building Real Momentum At The Perfect Time
Utahs early-season defensive surge has given the Utes a steady base to build on, and Lance Holtzclaw sounded like a player who can feel the difference. In a media session, the defensive standout pointed to the groups collective effort and the way the unit has leaned into versatility, with players able to handle different responsibilities depending on the call. Holtzclaw also talked about his own experience dropping into coverage, a small but telling sign of how much this defense asks its pieces to do.
The next test comes against Utah State, and Holtzclaws comments suggested the Utes are treating it as another chance to sharpen an identity that is starting to take shape. He praised Coach Swanns style and described a team approach that has emphasized preparation and adaptability, two traits that tend to matter more as the schedule settles in. For Utah, the challenge now is keeping that momentum from being just a good start and turning it into something more durable. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Rebuilt O-Line Is Changing One Big Concern Early
Utahs offensive line entered the season with the sort of uncertainty that usually takes a few weeks to sort out, because all five starters were new and Jordan Gross had to piece together a group on the fly. Through the first two games, though, Zereoue Williams, Alex Harrison, Solatoa Moeai, Roger Alderman and Cedric Jefferson have done more than hold their own. The Utes have stayed near the top of the national charts in points and yards per game, and the front has looked steady enough to give the offense a real early foundation.
For a team that needed answers up front, the bigger surprise may be how quickly the line has started to look settled. The unit has drawn praise for its communication and overall cleanliness, and it has given Utah a workable mix of size and movement that has helped the offense stay on schedule. There is still plenty of season left, of course, but what had looked like one of the clearest concerns on the roster is becoming a far less obvious problem. [Read more 🡒]