BYU football is dead set on reaching the College Football Playoffs in 2026. Coming off of two consecutive 11+ win seasons, BYU has been perhaps the most disrespected football team in the nation, as the only Power Four team to hit those marks that hasn't received an invitation to the final postseason bracket.
Not even last year, when an 11-1 regular season with a lone loss to top-four Texas Tech on the road barred the team from an at-large chance.
It was unjust, it was frustrating, and the narrative pushed by the media only made matters worse when they suggested the only way BYU deserved a spot was if they beat Tech in the championship game -- essentially atoning for the team's only loss and giving the Cougars a virtual 12-0 record with an auto-bid.
Unfortunately, the SEC and Big Ten-driven decision-makers haven't learned anything from last year's mess, and it may be up to BYU to leave no doubt in the eyes of the College Football Playoff Committee. Because looking at BYU's regular season schedule doesn't exactly scream "seventh circle of college football hell" outside of a few notable exceptions.
Winning those pivotal games can change the Cougars' fate.
BYU football regular season schedule 2026
Utah Tech
Arizona
@ Colorado State
@ TCU
Iowa State
Notre Dame
@ UCF
Arizona State
@ Utah
Baylor
@ Kansas
Cincinnati
Key Games:
vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
This is the big one, a potential top-10 matchup with one of the biggest brands in all of college football: Notre Dame. The Irish were also kept out of the final playoff bracket, and were supposed to face BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl before declining an invitation and abstaining from the postseason entirely.
This year, if both teams can manage to enter week 7 without a loss, this could be one of the biggest games of the year across the entire nation.
It's a win-win for BYU, as a loss doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of the Big 12 Conference, and only serves to help the Cougars' at-large resume in the event of a close loss or outright win.
@ Utah Utes
We don't know how strong teams like UCF, Arizona, Arizona State, or Baylor could be this season, but there's no denying that this game against Utah is the season-defining battle in BYU's Big 12 slate, even if the Utes aren't quite as strong as last season's squad.
BYU's in-conference schedule is visibly weak at a glance, but the Big 12 has a way of surprising you once the season begins.
Those with a keen eye will notice that BYU has no scheduled meeting with Texas Tech in the regular season (and no, Tech won't attempt to buy out Utah Tech to face BYU in week one). That's a major plot point and a ding against the Cougars' overall strength of schedule.
Tech is the most visibly talented team in the nation, and a win against the Red Raiders appears to be the only respectable result in the Big 12 Conference slate in the eyes of the CFP, outside of maybe a win against Utah, should they avoid a dip in Morgan Scalley's first season at the helm.
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