BYU Football Non-Conference Schedule Set for 2024

With the Big 12 being one of the P4 conferences to play nine conference games, the ABC format has become rather popular for scheduling. The ABC format means playing one P4 team, one G5 team, and an FCS squad.

Prior to Utah joining the Big 12, some were concerned about how an ABC non-conference schedule would work since the Holy War is such a big game, but at the same time, many didn’t want Utah to be the only P4 team that the Cougars played outside of conference play and bowl games.

With the Utes in the conference, that is no longer an issue.  Sure, some fans will want to see Utah State or Boise State as the G5 representative, but that’s a small vocal minority. For most fans, the idea of a national P4, regional (MWC most likely) G5 team, and in-state FCS game (SUU, Southern Utah, Weber St) is the perfect combination.

For BYU in 2024, they follow this model very well, with an exception perhaps to the FCS opponent.

• Southern Illinois August 31st (FCS)
• SMU September 6th (P5)
• Wyoming September 14th (G5)

For those wondering, yes SMU will be in the P4 next year. They are leaving the AAC conference this summer to join the ACC.

Tom Holmoe Seems Committed to ABC Scheduling

BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe has had the tough job of scheduling games for the Cougars for over 15 years. This was especially difficult when BYU was an Independent between 2011 and 2022. To be successful, Holmoe would often schedule out games more than a decade in advance.

This meant that when BYU announced they would be joining the Big 12 Conference, they would have to cancel quite a few games. For example, all the way back in 2021, BYU had the following teams already scheduled:

• At Utah
• UCF
• Hawaii
• At Wyoming
• Utah State
• Georgia Southern
• At East Carolina
• At UNLV (Allegiant Stadium)
• At NC State
• Southern Utah

Ultimately, Utah, UCF, and Wyoming remained on the schedule. All the other games were either rescheduled or canceled completely. Yet, Tom Holmoe decided to keep the ABC schedule format, showing he is committed to making sure that BYU keeps a competitive, fun, and realistic non-conference slate.

Schedule Starting to Settle In

The Big 12 has hinted that the full schedule will be released in the next week or so for the entire league. While we don’t know the exact dates of every game, the schedule is starting to take form. This is what we know:

1. The non-conference games are set. 
2. BYU will likely play the Friday before General Conference. They were given this last year, and it’s hard to imagine that Big 12 wouldn’t be accommodating again. This also means that along with the SMU game being on a Friday, it would be unlikely to have another Friday night game for the Cougars UNLESS they decide to move the Holy War to Black Friday (which would be pretty cool).
3. BYU and Utah, in all likelihood, will play the final weekend of the regular season.
4. We know the opponents and the locations BYU plays. We are just waiting on the order of games.

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