Big 12 announces weekday slate; Utah Football set for Black Friday home game in 2026

SALT LAKE CITY — The Big 12 has released its weekday game selections for the 2026 football season, providing additional clarity on Utah Football’s schedule and how the conference plans to distribute its television inventory.

In coordination with its media partners, ESPN and FOX, the conference announced nine games that will be played on Fridays or Thanksgiving Day. Kickoff times and network assignments will be announced at a later date.

For Utah, the update includes a late-season home game moved into a national window.

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘

🆚 West Virginia
🗓️ Friday, November 27
🏟️ @Rice_Eccles #GoUtes | #RSNB pic.twitter.com/BQEhof64FN

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 10, 2026

Utah to host West Virginia on Black Friday

After consecutive seasons of Black Friday road games, the Utes will finally host the West Virginia Mountaineers on Friday, Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving.

The Black Friday window has become a more consistent part of the college football schedule in recent years, offering programs an opportunity to play in a standalone setting with fewer competing games.

For Utah, the placement provides:

• A nationally televised opportunity late in the season
• A potential impact on conference positioning, depending on how the standings develop
• Added visibility during a high-viewership weekend

What it means for Utah

From a scheduling standpoint, Utah’s placement on Black Friday adds definition to the back end of the season. The Utes are expected to navigate a November stretch that should carry conference implications, and the standalone window provides additional visibility if those stakes materialize.

With Devon Dampier returning and Morgan Scalley entering his first full season, the program will have a late-season opportunity to play in a nationally featured time slot.

Big 12 leans into Friday scheduling

Utah’s selection is part of a broader approach by the Big 12 to utilize Friday games throughout the season, particularly in November.

The conference scheduled four Friday matchups in November:

• TCU Horned Frogs football at Arizona Wildcats football (Nov. 6)
• Houston Cougars football at Colorado Buffaloes football (Nov. 13)
• Iowa State Cyclones football at UCF Knights football (Nov. 20)
• West Virginia at Utah (Nov. 27)

Additionally, TCU Horned Frogs football will face Texas Tech Red Raiders football on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.

The Friday night scheduling has received criticism from Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell, which resulted in a strong-handed response from Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.

Early and midseason selections

The weekday schedule begins in September with a non-conference rivalry, as Kansas Jayhawks football hosts Missouri Tigers football on Friday, Sept. 11.

Other Friday matchups include:

• Houston Cougars football at Texas Tech Red Raiders football (Sept. 18)
• Iowa State Cyclones football at BYU Cougars football (Oct. 9)
• Baylor Bears football at UCF Knights football (Oct. 30)

The Bottom Line

Utah’s inclusion in the Big 12’s weekday slate places the Utes in a prominent late-season window, with a Black Friday home game against West Virginia. As the 2026 schedule continues to take shape, the placement adds structure to the closing stretch of the season and provides another opportunity for national exposure.

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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