Ultimate BYU Football Trips For Fans During 2021 College, NFL Season

PROVO, Utah – Let’s all cross our fingers that every BYU football and NFL game can have full attendance at games this fall. If that’s the case as we continue to inch closer to normalcy as a society amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Cougar fans will have some great football weekends they can pull off this year.

If you’re someone who loves to check out a BYU game plus an NFL contest on the same weekend. You’ll love this list of the ultimate BYU football trips for the 2021 season.

Zach Wilson, Jets game within driving distance

September 25th (Saturday): BYU vs. South Florida

September 26th (Sunday): New York Jets at Denver Broncos

Everyone in the BYU fan base appears to be stoked for Zach Wilson with the New York Jets. The only problem with going to the Jets is that New York is a long distance away from BYU football fans here in Utah.

🗣 CAN'T WAIT pic.twitter.com/kdefaKAY2i

— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 12, 2021

But there is a game involving Zach Wilson and his Jets that you could drive to this year.

One day after BYU looks for revenge at home against the South Florida Bulls in Provo, Wilson’s Jets are playing eight hours to the east in Colorado against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 26th. This will be only the third game of the season for the New York Jets. So it would be a chance to see Zach Wilson early in what many hope to be a successful and long NFL career.

Las Vegas Raiders game with BYU Football connections

October 9th (Saturday): BYU vs. Boise State

October 10th (Sunday): Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders

BYU and Boise State is always one of the biggest games annually on the schedule for the Cougars. This year, BYU is looking to win its third consecutive game in the series against the Broncos. One day after BYU takes on Boise, 378 miles to the south, the Las Vegas Raiders host the Chicago Bears.

Your full 2021 schedule » https://t.co/sjN5FY913e@Vegas I #RaiderNation

📺: Schedule Release ’21 | 5pm | @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/J5NLxdPTDv

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 12, 2021

The Raiders-Bears matchup could have some BYU football connections. Chicago selected former BYU nose tackle Khyiris Tonga in the 7th round of the 2021 NFL draft, while the Raiders picked up Matt Bushman as an undrafted free agent.

At a minimum, if you’re not able to see BYU take on Arizona on September 4th, it’s a great excuse to go check out the Raiders’ new $1.9 billion home, Allegiant Stadium.

Pacific Northwest Weekend

October 23rd (Saturday): BYU at Washington State

October 25th (Monday): New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks

BYU football is making their first-ever trip to the Palouse at Washington State. It’s the only stadium BYU has yet to play at within the Pac-12 Conference. The battle of the Cougars should be a fun one as the Nick Rolovich run-and-shoot offense features running back Max Borghi and former Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano.

Coming soon to a stadium near you… 🍿 🎬#Saints | @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/6bZpAVhIDn

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 12, 2021

After you see BYU during their first trip to Pullman, enjoy the rest of your football weekend in Pacific Northwest. If the BYU-Wazzu game is a late kick, you can recover Sunday morning and then make the 285-mile drive to Seattle to watch Taysom Hill and the New Orleans Saints play Russell Wilson’s Seahawks on Monday Night Football on October 25.

If Taysom Hill ends up as the starting quarterback of the Saints, this might be a must-see weekend for any BYU football fan.

Football in the Deep South

November 18th (Thursday): New England Patriots at Atlanta Falcons

November 20th (Saturday): BYU at Georgia Southern

A trip to watch BYU take on Georgia Southern isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but if you can pair it up with a weekend to see Kyle Van Noy and the New England Patriots, why not?

The collector's set you've been waiting for.

Our 2021 schedule is here: https://t.co/nX3lWpSswh pic.twitter.com/4lDdWzGv0J

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 12, 2021

Fly into Atlanta on a cheap SLC to ATL flight on Delta a few days before the BYU game so you can catch some Thursday Night NFL action.

Kyle Van Noy and Harvey Langi on the New England Patriots will square off against Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons on TNF. Former BYU defensive lineman Zac Dawe is also part of the Falcons organization as an undrafted free agent.

The next day, you can make the 3-hour, 15-minute southeast drive to Statesboro, Georgia, to see BYU against the triple-option running Eagles.

Christmas on the Gridiron

December 26th (Sunday): Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys

December 27th (Monday): Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints

TBD: Independence Bowl; Shreveport, Louisiana

If you’re looking to spend the Christmas season jampacked with football, this might be the trip for you. BYU football is contracted to play in the Independence Bowl against a Conference-USA team in 2021 if they don’t receive a bid to a New Year’s Six bowl game. The Independence Bowl is played in Shreveport, Louisiana.

OFFICIAL: We are excited to announce our tie-ins for the next bowl cycle from 2020-2025 – featuring Army, BYU, the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA and Pac-12!

Full story: https://t.co/CiR50roTir pic.twitter.com/1r7U71mXXM

— Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl (@IndyBowl) January 30, 2020

No date has been released yet for the Independence Bowl, but last year’s game took place on Saturday, December 26th. That would mean Christmas Day is a potential option. One thing we know is that ESPN typically avoids scheduling bowl games on Sundays or Mondays, so there is no competition with the NFL.

If the Independence Bowl lands on Tuesday, December 28th, it could set up a memorable post-Christmas trip. Starting with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Washington Football Team. Dallas is 220 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Former BYU football wide receiver was selected in the 7th round by WFT in the 2021 NFL draft.

The following day, Taysom Hill and the New Orleans Saints play in the Superdome on Monday Night Football against Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.