Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — Less than 100 days until kickoff, half of the 2021 BYU football schedule is taking shape, including the first three weeks of the season and the annual showdown with rival Utah at home.
BYU will open the 2021 season Saturday, Sept. 4 against Arizona. Kickoff from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — its first college football game in the Raiders' new home — will be at 8:30 p.m. MT on ESPN.
A week later, the Cougars will open at home on Sept. 11 against the Utes. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. MT on ESPN.
BYU will face its third consecutive opponent from the Pac-12 South when it welcomes Arizona State to LaVell Edwards Stadium on Sept. 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. MT on ESPN.
Three games. Three Pac-12 opponents. Three late kickoffs on ESPN.
ESPN also scheduled BYU's annual FCS game against Idaho State — what will serve as Senior Night for the 2021 class — for Saturday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. MT. That game will be televised on BYUtv and streamed on ESPN3.
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ BROADCAST UPDATE pic.twitter.com/eI79fwoFHI
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) May 27, 2021
The Cougars will also face in-state rival Utah State during the regular Latter-day Saint general conference weekend series Friday, Oct. 1. Kickoff from Maverik Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network, as announced by the Mountain West Conference.
Further home dates with South Florida on Sept. 25, Boise State on Oct. 9, and the return of former coach Bronco Mendenhall with Virginia on Oct. 30 will be announced at a later date. Each of those games will be broadcast on one of ESPN's networks, in accordance with the Cougars' contract with the Worldwide Leader in Sports.
Additional kickoff times and arrangements for BYU's road games at Baylor (Oct. 16), Washington State (Oct. 23), Georgia Southern (Nov. 20) and USC (Nov. 27) will be announced at a later date.
The Cougars plan to return to full capacity at LaVell Edwards Stadium this fall, with additional tickets going on sale for non-BYU season ticket holders in June and July. Capacity plans are contingent on recommendations from Utah County and the Utah Department of Health.
