The University of Utah has added several non-conference football games to its future schedule.
The Utes announced on Thursday that they will play in-state foe Weber State at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Aug. 31, 2023 as well as signing a home-and-home with the Houston for 2026 and 2027. The Utes and Cougars will square off Sept. 5, 2026, in Houston and Sept. 11, 2027, in Salt Lake City.
Houston Series
While it’s not a powerhouse like Ohio State or Alabama, scheduling a game against Houston makes a lot of sense. Because of the deep recruiting ties in Texas and in the greater Houston metropolitan, a number of players will get to play in front of friends and family as well as a great opportunity to for coaches to make more recruiting connections in the state of Texas.
Looking at the Utes’ roster, the team has 11 players that are originally from the Lone Star State. Unless they are matched up in a bowl game, the Utes will be looking for their first win over the Cougars in school history.
The Utes are 0-4 all-time against Houston, a team it has not played since 1978.
Weber State Series
The Utes and Weber State are scheduled to play in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, pending approval from the Pac-12 Conference which has the option to move the game to Sept. 1 or Sept. 2.
Already scheduled to open the 2018 season against the Wildcats, the Utes now have three futureu games against Weber State in 2018, 2021 and 2023. Utah is 4-0 all-time against Weber State with its most recent meeting in 2013 ending in a 70-7 blowout against the Wildcats.
While scheduling FCS teams is not what most fans want to see, the ability to get extra home games as well as using the game as a tuneup before the conference season starts is a great bonus.
Of all the FCS teams, It’s nice to see in-state programs such as Weber State getting the large payout and benefit from it to help its athletic program.
With Weber State now added in 2013, the Utes now have two non-conference games scheduled with the Wildcats as well as hosting Baylor on Sept. 9.
Here’s a look at Utah’s future non-conference opponents:
2018: Weber State, at Northern Illinois, BYU
2019: at BYU, Northern Illinois, Idaho State
2020: BYU, Montana State, at Wyoming
2021: Weber State, at BYU, at San Diego State
2022: BYU, Southern Utah, San Diego State
2023: Weber State, at Baylor
2024: Southern Utah, Baylor
2025: Wyoming
2026: at Houston
2027: Houston
