BYU, Cal Football Series Canceled After ACC Change
Dec 17, 2025, 8:01 AM | Updated: Dec 18, 2025, 9:56 am
The BYU football home-and-home series against California has been canceled. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – BYU football needs a non-conference game against a Power Four opponent on its 2026 schedule.
The Cougars were initially going to face the California Golden Bears in Provo on Saturday, September 12, 2026, but that game, along with BYU’s visit to Berkley in 2027, has been canceled.
BYU, Cal home-and-home series canceled due to ACC schedule change
California canceled the series with BYU because the ACC is moving from an eight-game schedule to a nine-game schedule for its member programs, starting in 2026.
KSL Sports obtained copies of the communication for the canceled home-and-home series between Cal and BYU through a public records request with UC Berkeley.
BYU Athletics had no comment at this time regarding BYU’s next steps for the 2026 football schedule.
The series between BYU and Cal was initially scheduled by former BYU AD Tom Holmoe in 2024, following openings on BYU’s schedule that were created by Big 12 expansion when Arizona and Utah joined the Big 12.
Cal is one of 12 ACC teams that will have a nine-game league schedule in 2026. The other five in the ACC will play eight league games next season.
All 17 ACC teams will move to a nine-game conference schedule in 2027.
BYU already has six home games scheduled for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The loss of the home game against Cal means BYU doesn’t have seven home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium next year, unless it can bring in a Power Four opponent to Provo.
BYU football needs one nonconference game for the 2026 and 2027 seasons
The Big 12 Conference, which plays a nine-game conference schedule, requires its members to have one non-conference matchup against a Power Four opponent. That would give all Big 12 teams 10 games against Power Four opponents in a given season.
With the Cal series canceled, BYU’s remaining non-conference games for 2026 include a home game against Utah Tech and a road game at Colorado State, which is joining the Pac-12 next season, in Ft Collins.
In 2027, BYU’s non-conference schedule includes home games against Weber State and Pac-12 member Oregon State.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
