Utah-Florida, BYU's Big 12 openers get prime treatment in early CFB reveal


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SALT LAKE CITY — It's never too early to start dreaming of college football, including for the state of Utah's two Power Five programs.

The University of Utah's Thursday night opener against Florida will air at 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN, while BYU's first game as a member of the Big 12 Conference against Sam Houston will air at 8:15 p.m. MDT on FS1, as announced on Wednesday as part of the networks' early college football season reveals.

The game from Rice-Eccles Stadium will mark the first time the Gators have opened the season outside the Sunshine State since 1991. Utah is 77-51-1 all-time in season openers, with just three losses in the last 16 seasons — including last year's 29-26 setback in the Swamp.

It's also part of a loaded Week 1 of the 2023 season on the ESPN family of networks — a slate that also includes Virginia-Tennessee, Boise State-Washington and LSU-Florida State as part of a Sunday doubleheader with Oregon State-San Jose State.

Utah will then hit the road as one of seven Pac-12 schools playing in a Power Five matchup on Week 2 when the Utes face Baylor on Saturday, Sept. 9. It's the first time since 2007 that Utah will face back-to-back Power Five nonconference opponents to open the season.

The Pac-12 also announced the Utes' Friday night road trip to Corvallis, Oregon, as one of its "special date" games. Oregon State will host Utah on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. MDT.

The Pac-12 championship game is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1 on ABC. Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. MDT.

For BYU, the Cougars' Big 12 campaign starts with a pair of home games against the FBS/Conference USA newcomers and 2020-21 FCS national champion Bearkats, followed by a 1 p.m. MDT kickoff Sept. 9 against in-state FCS foe Southern Utah as part of the conference's Big 12 Now on ESPN+ package.

The Saturday night kickoff in Provo will be the first-ever FS1 broadcast originating from LaVell Edwards Stadium for the network that launched in 2013, after the Cougars' signed an exclusive home broadcasting deal with ESPN to go independent in football.

BYU will then travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for its own nonconference game against an SEC opponent, facing Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. MDT Sept. 16 on ESPN2.

The Big 12 also announced six "special-date" conference matchups, including BYU's home conference opener against Cincinnati. The Friday night game scheduled for Sept. 29 will feature two conference newcomers in an 8:15 p.m. MDT kickoff on ESPN.

The Cougars and Bearcats last met during a two-game, home-and-home series in 2015 and 2016 that BYU swept, first 38-24 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in 2015 followed by a 20-3 win at Cincinnati in head coach Kalani Sitake's first season in Provo.

The Big 12 football championship will return to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the ninth year, kicking off Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. MDT on ABC. The remainder of the Cougars' kickoff and broadcast schedule for their first season in the Big 12 will be announced by the conference office on a 12-day or six-day notice.

The Mountain West also announced its 47-game national television schedule Wednesday, a slate that includes Utah State's conference opener at Air Force. The Aggies will face the Falcons on Friday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. MDT on CBS Sports Network.

Utah State's opener at Iowa will kick off Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. MDT on FS1, as announced by the Big Ten. The Aggies will also face Fresno State, Boise State, New Mexico and San Jose State on CBS Sports Network, while the Nov. 4 game against San Diego State will be broadcast on a FOX network.

BYU

  • Sept. 2 — vs. Sam Houston, 8:15 p.m. MT (FS1)
  • Sept. 9 — vs. Southern Utah, 1 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
  • Sept. 16 — at Arkansas, 5:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
  • Sept. 29 — vs. Cincinnati, 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)

Utah

  • Aug. 31 — vs. Florida, 6 p.m. MT (ESPN)
  • Sept. 9 — at Baylor, 10 a.m. MT (ESPN)
  • Sept. 16 — vs. Weber State, 12 p.m. MT (Pac-12 Network)
  • Sept. 29 — at Oregon State, 7 p.m. MT

Utah State

  • Sept. 2 — at Iowa, 10 a.m. MT (FS1)
  • Sept. 15 — at Air Force, 6 p.m. MT (CBSSN)
  • Oct. 13 — vs. Fresno State, 6 p.m. MT (CBSSN)
  • Oct. 21 — at San Jose State, 5 p.m. MT (CBSSN)
  • Nov. 4 — at San Diego State, TBD (FOX Networks)
  • Nov. 18 — vs. Boise State, 5 p.m. MT (CBSSN)
  • Nov. 24 — at New Mexico, 1:30 p.m. MT (CBSSN)

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