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PROVO, Utah (March 1, 2005) -- In cooperation with the Mountain West Conference, BYU today announced its football schedule for the 2006 season. The '06 schedule includes five opponents that participated in bowl games last season, posting a 4-1 record. The 12-game schedule will also feature at least two Thursday-night games, two advantageous bye weeks and six home games, including non-conference match-ups against Tulsa and Utah State.
"We're excited about this year's schedule," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "We look forward to competing this season with an improved football team, building off the success from last season. Whether we are on the road or here at Edwards Stadium, we'll be prepared to face each opponent with the effort, intensity and execution necessary to compete at the highest level."
The season will kickoff on Sept. 2 against an old regional rival. The Cougars will take on Arizona at Arizona Stadium (56,000) in the season-opener for both teams. It will mark the first meeting between the two teams in 29 years.
The Cougars and Wildcats first played in 1936 and had their last match-up in Arizona's final season of Western Athletic Conference play in 1977. BYU won that game in Provo by a score of 34-14. In what will be the 20th meeting between the two teams, Arizona owns a 10-8-1 lead in the series.
Since 1978, the first year of the expanded Pac-10, BYU holds a 2-1 record in season-openers against Pac-10 opponents.
On Sept. 9, the Cougars will play host to former WAC foe Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane finished the 2005 season with a 9-4 overall record, including a victory over Fresno State in the Liberty Bowl. The bowl game marked Tulsa's second post-season appearance over the past three seasons.
The Cougars are 5-0 against the Golden Hurricane, dating back to the 1971 season.
The following week, Sept. 16, BYU will travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass., to conclude a home-and-home series with Boston College. The Eagles, who finished last season ranked 17th in the nation, are coming off their third nine-win season over the past four years.
Boston College defeated Boise State in the MPC Computers Bowl to win their sixth-straight bowl game, marking the longest bowl game win streak in the country. BC started the 2005 season with a 20-3 victory over BYU in Provo.
The Cougars will return to Provo on Sept. 23 to complete their non-conference schedule, taking on in-state rival Utah State for the first time since the 2002 season. One of the state's oldest rivalries, the Cougars and Aggies have met 76 times with BYU owning a 40-33-3 record in the 84-year-old rivalry.
"The BYU-Utah State game is a tradition in Utah, and we're excited to have the Aggies on our schedule," Mendenhall said. "It will be nice to renew this rivalry and have the opportunity to play for the Beehive Boot."
The two teams had met every year from 1946 through 1994 and then played every year except 1995 and 1998 before the series stopped after 2002.
BYU has won seven straight since the Aggies posted a thrilling 58-56 victory in 1993. Three of the last five games in the series were decided by one score as BYU held on for a 42-35 home win in 1997, won 34-31 in overtime in 1999 and then rallied for a 35-34 win in the last meeting in 2002.
On Thursday, Sept. 28, BYU will kickoff its eighth season in the Mountain West Conference, traveling to Fort Worth, Texas to take on TCU. In their first season as a member of the MWC, the Horned Frogs won the 2005 league title, claiming an 8-0 record. Overall, TCU posted 11 wins on the season, including a 27-24 win over Iowa State in the EV1.net Houston Bowl.
The Cougars will return to Edwards Stadium on Oct. 7, taking on San Diego State. The Aztecs finished tied with the University of Utah for fourth place in the MWC last season with a 4-4 league record.
After a bye week on Oct. 14, the Cougars will play host to UNLV on Oct. 21. While the Cougars lead the overall series with the Rebels, 10-3, UNLV has won the last two games played in Provo by a combined score of 48-23.
BYU will then make back-to-back trips to Colorado's Front Range, traveling to the U.S. Air Force Academy on Oct. 28 and Colorado State on Nov. 4. The Cougars have won two straight against both the Falcons and Rams, dating back to the 2004 season.
After two straight weekends on the road, the Cougars will return home for back-to-back games at Edwards Stadium. BYU will take on Wyoming on Thursday, Nov. 9 and New Mexico on Nov. 18 in Provo. This year's game will mark the 73rd meeting between the Cowboys and Cougars, dating back to the 1922 season. BYU has won five of the last six meetings against Wyoming. After winning four straight games against the Lobos from 1999 through 2001, the two teams have traded victories on each other's home field.
While the 2006 season officially goes through Dec. 2, BYU will wrap up the 2006 season in Salt Lake City, taking on in-state and MWC rival Utah on Nov. 25. The Cougars have a designated off week on Dec. 2.
Details regarding start times and television information will be released by the Mountain West Conference at a later date. A comprehensive, conference-wide television schedule outlining the MWC's partnership with College Sports Television (CSTV) and the Conferences' dedicated regional network will be announced in the near future.
Date Opponent Location Time
Sept. 2 Arizona Tucson, Ariz. TBA
Sept. 9 TULSA PROVO TBA
Sept. 16 Boston College Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Sept. 23 UTAH STATE PROVO TBA
Sept. 28 TCU Fort Worth, Texas TBA
Oct. 7 SAN DIEGO STATE PROVO TBA
Oct. 14 Open
Oct. 21 UNLV PROVO TBA
Oct. 28 Air Force Colorado Springs, Colo. TBA
Nov. 4 Colorado State Fort Collins, Colo. TBA
Nov. 9 WYOMING PROVO TBA
Nov. 18 NEW MEXICO PROVO TBA
Nov. 25 Utah Salt Lake City TBA
