BYU Football: Three Insights on the 2025 Schedule
The 2025 BYU football schedule has now been fully reviewed. Here are three key observations from the 12-game lineup, starting with the timing of the rivalry clash against Utah.
Big 12 Needs to Make the BYU-Utah Rivalry a Regular Fixture
The October 18 matchup between BYU and Utah is unusual, but the timing of this rivalry has always been unpredictable over the last 15 years. In fact, it seems like the most consistent thing about this series has been the complaints regarding the date, especially since the two teams split from the Mountain West in 2010. Only once since that split has the BYU-Utah game been played in the final week of the season (2018). Given the College Football Playoff’s 12-team format, it’s understandable that conferences are experimenting with game dates to increase playoff bids. However, the Big 12’s inconsistency with the BYU-Utah game schedule feels aimless. If the Big 12 wants this rivalry to match the Texas-Oklahoma level, it needs to make it a staple of the season, either as a mid-October game, an early November fixture, or perhaps even a Thanksgiving tradition. No matter the weekend, the rivalry should have a fixed spot annually to build its brand and draw attention beyond the Big 12’s reach. Last year’s November 9 game, when BYU was ranked No. 9 and Utah fought for bowl eligibility, created high stakes and captured a strong TV audience. No matter when it’s scheduled, the rivalry lives up to the hype, but the Big 12 must ensure it establishes a lasting identity for the game.
BYU Football Gets an Early Bye Week
In the 2025 season, BYU will have its first bye week in Week 3, the earliest since 2013 when the team was still an FBS Independent. This isn’t an ideal placement, as teams generally prefer to build momentum before a break. The second bye will come just after a road game at Iowa State on October 25. This means BYU will play six straight games between the two bye weeks, with four of those games being away from home. The Big 12 tends to schedule byes after teams have traveled two time zones for road games, but BYU’s trip to Cincinnati on November 22 leaves no room for a bye following that game.
Six Opponents from the 2025 BYU Football Schedule Made It to a Bowl
Six of BYU’s 2025 opponents participated in bowl games last year: East Carolina, Colorado, West Virginia, Iowa State, Texas Tech, and TCU. Of these teams, four will play in Provo. The other six teams on the schedule—Portland State, Stanford, Arizona, Utah, Cincinnati, and UCF—did not reach a bowl game last year. However, it’s important to remember that a few of these teams could pose greater challenges than anticipated in February. For instance, no one expected Arizona State to be a de facto play-in game for the Big 12 Championship just a year ago. The Big 12 is a league known for its rapid turnarounds.
2025 BYU Football Schedule Big 12 Conference game
August 30 – Portland State Vikings
September 6 – Stanford Cardinal
September 13 – BYE
September 20 – at East Carolina Pirates
September 27 – at Colorado Buffaloes*
October 3 (Friday) – West Virginia Mountaineers*
October 11 – at Arizona Wildcats*
October 18 – Utah Utes (Homecoming)*
October 25 – at Iowa State Cyclones*
November 1 – BYE
November 8 – at Texas Tech Red Raiders*
November 15 – TCU Horned Frogs*
November 22 – at Cincinnati Bearcats*
November 29 – UCF Knights*
December 6 – 2025 Big 12 Football Championship (Arlington, Texas)