NCAA

Utah Basketball: Big 12 Conference Opponents For 2025-26 Season

Jun 12, 2025, 10:28 AM | Updated: 11:40 am

Alex Jensen, Utah basketball have staff in place and will shift focus to recruiting....

Alex Jensen introduced as head coach of Utah men's basketball. Photo by Steve Bartle, KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – The Big 12 just dropped its 2025–26 conference matchups, and Alex Jensen’s Utah basketball program now knows who to prepare for in their 18-game league schedule.

As Utah enters its first year under Jensen, the Utes are getting ready for their second run through the Big 12.

Last year, they played a 20-game league schedule; the 2025-26 season will feature an 18-game slate. The Big 12 Conference announced the opponent matrix for men’s basketball in the 2025-26 season.

That means each Big 12 program will face only three teams, home and away. Utah’s three home/away opponents include Arizona State, BYU, and Colorado.

Big 12 Men’s Basketball Vice President Brian Thornton said at the Big 12 Spring Meetings last month that rivalries, geography, and television would be factors in deciding each program’s home and away opponents.

Utah basketball’s home-and-away Big 12 opponents in 2025-26

  • Arizona State
  • BYU
  • Colorado

For Utah, the core of the conference schedule includes home-and-away showdowns with three familiar faces: Arizona State, BYU, and Colorado.

The heated in-state rivalry with BYU is back for another two-game installment — the only repeat home-and-away from last season.

All three of those matchups have featured intense contests over the years. BYU prepares for a big run next season, while Arizona State and Colorado are trying to climb out of the bottom of the Big 12.

All in all, that’s a pretty favorable trio of opponents for home-and-home games.

Utah’s 2025-26 Big 12 home contests

  • Arizona
  • Houston
  • Iowa State
  • Oklahoma State
  • TCU
  • UCF

For the other 12 games, they will be split six home and six road games. At home, in the Huntsman Center, the Runnin’ Utes will welcome Arizona, Iowa State, TCU, Houston, UCF, and Oklahoma State.

Arizona has played many conference games in the Huntsman Center. Only Oklahoma State traveled to Salt Lake City last season. That means Iowa State, TCU, Houston, and UCF will all make their first trips to Utah next season.

That home slate will provide Runnin’ Utes fans some great contests to attend. There are matchups against top and middle-tier contenders in the Big 12. All in all, that’s a super solid set of home games for the Runnin’ Utes.

Utah’s 2025-26 Big 12 road contests

  • Baylor
  • Cincinnati
  • Kansas
  • Kansas State
  • Texas Tech
  • West Virginia

On the road, Utah’s heading east and deep into Big 12 territory with trips to Cincinnati, West Virginia, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Baylor.

Utah traveled to Baylor, Cincinnati, and West Virginia last season. So, they will be traveling to those programs in consecutive seasons.

The Utes welcomed Kansas, Kansas State, and Texas Tech to Salt Lake City last season and will be traveling there this season. Those road trips will feature first-time trips to iconic venues such as Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas), Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State), and United Supermarkets Arena (Texas Tech).

And circle the dates: the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament returns to T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, March 10–14.

Alex Jensen, Wes Wilcox are excited for Utah basketball

“We’re excited to officially announce the men’s basketball roster,” Alex Jensen said in a statement issued by Utah Athletics. “Our staff has taken great care in constructing a roster that’ll compete on the court and make a positive impact on our community while also being great stewards of our University. We’re thrilled to get to work and can’t wait for the season to begin.”

Utah currently has a projected 13 roster spots accounted for, which leaves two spots that could be filled if they choose to do so. The staff has been actively evaluating and communicating with uncommitted 2025 high school prospects.

“We have constructed a roster that is aligned with the clear vision we have for the program,” Runnin’ Utes General Manager Wes Wilcox said. “We will compete, we will work hard, and we will not quit. This group represents those characteristics, and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce them to our community.”

Jensen’s vision centered around an athletic, defensive-minded team. The additions Utah has made have all provided upgrades in athleticism and versatility, particularly on the defensive end.  As the team begins their practices together, they’ll begin to establish their core principles and identity.

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

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Utah Basketball: Big 12 Conference Opponents For 2025-26 Season