How competitive will BYU be in its first season in the Big 12 Conference? Can the Cougars be a contender sooner rather than later?
The BYU Cougars storm the field before a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. BYU’s first Big 12 football schedule was released Tuesday, as the conference announced its 2023 schedule. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News

By Brandon Judd

BYU’s first football schedule as a member of the Big 12 Conference is set.

The conference announced its 2023 football schedule on Tuesday, including BYU’s schedule. BYU is joining the Power Five league this summer along with Cincinnati, Houston and UCF.

Kickoff times, most of which are finalized during the season, will be announced later.

2023 BYU football schedule

  • Sept. 2 — vs. Sam Houston.
  • Sept. 9 — vs. Southern Utah.
  • Sept. 16 — at Arkansas.
  • Sept. 23 — at Kansas.
  • Sept. 29 — vs. Cincinnati.
  • Oct. 7 — BYE.
  • Oct. 14 — at TCU.
  • Oct. 21 — vs. Texas Tech.
  • Oct. 28 — at Texas.
  • Nov. 4 — at West Virginia.
  • Nov. 11 — vs. Iowa State.
  • Nov. 18 — vs. Oklahoma.
  • Nov. 25 — at Oklahoma State.

The Big 12 championship game is scheduled for Dec. 2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Highlights of the BYU Cougars 2023 Big 12 football schedule

  • BYU’s nonconference schedule was already known prior to Tuesday, and the Cougars will kick off their Big 12 era with home games against Sam Houston and Southern Utah followed by a road game at the SEC’s Arkansas.
  • BYU’s first Big 12 game will be on the road at Kansas on Sept. 23.
  • The Cougars will play their first conference home game against Cincinnati on Sept. 29, a Friday.
  • BYU will play both Texas and Oklahoma, who are set to leave for the SEC. The Cougars play at Texas on Oct. 28 and host Oklahoma on Nov. 18 in BYU’s home finale.
  • The Cougars will play four home games and five road games in conference play as a part of their nine-game conference schedule. That gives BYU six home games and six road games on its 2023 schedule.
  • The Cougars only play one other Big 12 newcomer, Cincinnati, while Houston and UCF aren’t on their 2023 schedule.
  • With the Big 12 having 14 members in 2023, the Cougars won’t play four league teams in their inaugural season: Baylor, UCF, Houston and Kansas State.

Will there be Big 12 divisions in 2023?

  • The Big 12 announced that the conference, even with adding four new members, will not divide into divisions.
  • The top two finishers by the conference win percentage in the league’s regular-season standings will qualify for the Big 12 championship game.