Big 12 Announces Arizona Football Conference Opponents for Next Four Years
11/01/2023 | Football
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Big 12 Conference has announced its 16-team, four-year conference scheduling matrix for Arizona Football's 2024-27 seasons. The scheduling model was developed with a priority on geography, historic matchups, and rivalries as well as competitive balance.
"As we look towards the future of this Conference, we are thrilled to introduce the first football scheduling matrix for the new-look Big 12," said Commissioner Brett Yormark. "I'm grateful to our membership for their support throughout the scheduling process. In this model, competitive balance and student-athlete wellness was prioritized. Rivalries will be protected, and new matchups will be introduced – the excitement and parity this Conference is known for will continue for years to come."
Arizona has played 91 games in program history against future Big 12 Conference opponents, including 32 match-ups against Border Conference rival Texas Tech, with the last meeting taking place in 2019. The Wildcats have played BYU (12-12-1) 25 times with the most recent match-up in Las Vegas in 2021, Houston (1-3) four times with the most recent contest in 2018, TCU (1-1) twice with the last matchup coming in 2003, and have never faced West Virginia and UCF.
The Conference looked to maintain the current 5/4, 4/5 home/away rotation for all 16 members to minimize non-conference scheduling disruptions. Other important factors were balancing annual travel by distance and time zones and maintaining connectivity to rivalries without compromising a balanced rotation for all teams.
Big 12 Football will not go into divisions and that will allow teams to cycle through all opponents as quickly and equitably as possible as well as provide a path for the conference championship game participants that is a true reflection of the quality of the teams on each schedule and overall strength of the league, rather than pitting divisional champions against one another where a large portion of each teams' schedule is dedicated to divisional/protected games.
The Big 12 will compete as a 16-team conference for the first time in 2024. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah will join in the summer of 2024 joining Baylor, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia.
Location and dates will be announced as soon as available.
Away: BYU, Utah, TCU, UCF
Away: Arizona State, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Cincinnati
Away: BYU, Texas Tech, Kansas State, West Virginia
Away: Arizona State, Utah, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas
"As we look towards the future of this Conference, we are thrilled to introduce the first football scheduling matrix for the new-look Big 12," said Commissioner Brett Yormark. "I'm grateful to our membership for their support throughout the scheduling process. In this model, competitive balance and student-athlete wellness was prioritized. Rivalries will be protected, and new matchups will be introduced – the excitement and parity this Conference is known for will continue for years to come."
Arizona has played 91 games in program history against future Big 12 Conference opponents, including 32 match-ups against Border Conference rival Texas Tech, with the last meeting taking place in 2019. The Wildcats have played BYU (12-12-1) 25 times with the most recent match-up in Las Vegas in 2021, Houston (1-3) four times with the most recent contest in 2018, TCU (1-1) twice with the last matchup coming in 2003, and have never faced West Virginia and UCF.
- Home conference opponents in 2024: Arizona State, Colorado, Texas Tech, Houston, and West Virginia
- Road conference opponents in 2024: BYU, Utah, TCU, and UCF
The Conference looked to maintain the current 5/4, 4/5 home/away rotation for all 16 members to minimize non-conference scheduling disruptions. Other important factors were balancing annual travel by distance and time zones and maintaining connectivity to rivalries without compromising a balanced rotation for all teams.
Big 12 Football will not go into divisions and that will allow teams to cycle through all opponents as quickly and equitably as possible as well as provide a path for the conference championship game participants that is a true reflection of the quality of the teams on each schedule and overall strength of the league, rather than pitting divisional champions against one another where a large portion of each teams' schedule is dedicated to divisional/protected games.
The Big 12 will compete as a 16-team conference for the first time in 2024. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah will join in the summer of 2024 joining Baylor, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia.
Location and dates will be announced as soon as available.
BIG 12 FUTURE CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
2024
Home: Arizona State, Colorado, Texas Tech, Houston, West VirginiaAway: BYU, Utah, TCU, UCF
2025
Home: BYU, Baylor, Oklahoma State, KansasAway: Arizona State, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Cincinnati
2026
Home: Arizona State, Utah, TCU, Iowa State, CincinnatiAway: BYU, Texas Tech, Kansas State, West Virginia
2027
Home: Colorado, Houston, Kansas State, UCFAway: Arizona State, Utah, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas
Tuesday, August 25
Tuesday, August 25
Tuesday, August 25
Saturday, August 22
