Utah Football's 2026 Road Games Ranked From Toughest to Easiest

The Utes face a challenging Big 12 schedule with only one game outside the Mountain Time Zone.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Utah's 2026 Big 12 road schedule features several tough matchups, including a late-season trip to TCU and a mid-November clash with Arizona. The Utes also face Cincinnati in October and Colorado in mid-October, while their road game at Iowa State in late September is considered the easiest of the bunch.

Why it matters

The Utes' road schedule will be a key factor in determining their success in Morgan Scalley's first season as head coach. Navigating a challenging slate of away games, especially in the final month of the season, will test Utah's depth and resilience as they aim to build on their 11-2 campaign in 2025.

The details

Utah's toughest road game is expected to be the November 21 matchup at TCU, as the Horned Frogs have been strong at home under Sonny Dykes. The Utes' trip to Arizona on November 14 also looms large, as the Wildcats are on the rise under Brent Brennan. Utah's October 31 game at Cincinnati and October 17 contest at Colorado are also considered challenging road tests, while the September 27 game at Iowa State is viewed as the easiest of the bunch with the Cyclones undergoing a coaching change.

  • Utah's only bye week is on October 3.
  • The Utes play 8 straight games after their bye.
  • Utah's road games are spread out, with 1 in September, 2 in October, and 2 in November.

The players

Sonny Dykes

The head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs, who have been strong at home under his leadership.

Brent Brennan

The head coach of the Arizona Wildcats, who have been trending in the right direction and are expected to field a formidable team in 2026.

Scott Satterfield

The head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats, who will host Utah in a Halloween matchup.

Deion Sanders

The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, who will look to turn the program around with several high-profile transfer portal additions.

Jimmy Rogers

The first-year head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, who will be tasked with rebuilding the program after the departure of longtime coach Matt Campbell.

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What they’re saying

“We must be prepared for a tough road schedule, especially late in the season. The TCU and Arizona games will be major challenges, but we're confident in our ability to compete at a high level no matter the opponent or location.”

— Morgan Scalley, Head Coach, Utah Utes

What’s next

Utah will need to closely monitor the health and status of its key players as the season progresses, especially in the final month, in order to navigate a challenging road slate.

The takeaway

Utah's 2026 road schedule will test the Utes' depth and resilience, but if they can emerge victorious in their toughest away games against TCU and Arizona, they will be well-positioned to contend for a Big 12 title in Morgan Scalley's first season as head coach.