• Wed. Feb 19th, 2025

Arizona Replaces BYU with Washington State in Future Non-Conference Matchups

Arizona replaces BYU with Washington State in future schedule

Arizona announced a home-and-home series with Washington State in 2026 and 2027, as revealed by the Wildcats’ football account on Friday.

The Wildcats will visit Washington State on Sept. 26, 2026, and host the Cougars on Sept. 25, 2027. This series fills the slot left by BYU after both teams joined the Big XII.

Arizona leads the all-time series against Washington State 28-19, holding a 15-11 record in Tucson and 15-1 in Pullman. The Wildcats snapped a three-game losing streak to the Cougars with a dominant 44-6 win in Pullman during their last Pac-12 matchup in 2023.

Washington State had previously won five of six games against Arizona before 2023. The rivalry began in 1963 with a 7-2 Cougars win in Spokane. After losing two of the first three matchups, Arizona won five of the next six to take the series lead.

The Cougars finished 2024 with an 8-5 record after starting 8-1. In 2026, they’ll play in a restructured Pac-12 with Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Utah State. Gonzaga, however, does not have a football team.

Arizona holds a 7-6 edge over Washington State in non-conference games and a 21-13 advantage during their shared 45 years in the Pac-12. The teams played nearly every year from 1979 to 2010, before the Pac-10 expanded to the Pac-12 in 2011.

Arizona’s 2026 schedule includes hosting Northern Arizona on Sept. 5 and Northern Illinois on Sept. 19, in addition to Washington State. The 2027 season opens at Colorado State on Sept. 4, with home games against Northern Arizona on Sept. 18 and Washington State.

Arizona’s non-conference schedules are set through 2031, with a single opening in 2032. That year, Arizona is slated to face Alabama and Northern Arizona. In 2033, Arizona will host Alabama and NAU while traveling to Wyoming.

 

 

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