BYU, Boise State Agree To New 10-Year Scheduling Agreement
Sep 10, 2019, 11:17 AM
Quarterback Zach Wilson #11 of the BYU Cougars scrambles away from pressure during first half action against the Boise State Broncos on November 3, 2018 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – If you haven’t thought of BYU and Boise State as rivals yet, you’re going to change your tune eventually because the Cougars and Broncos are going to be facing off against one another for a very long time.
The two schools announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to a new 10-year scheduling agreement from 2025 to 2034.
Both programs will meet on the gridiron annually during that time span.
Boise State and BYU announce a resumption of the rivalry from 2025-34!
🔗 https://t.co/XrsuxvLeUL#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/2X4lqWdpcl
— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) September 10, 2019
Last month, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said at Education Week that he had recently scheduled a game for the 2033 season. Perhaps he was referring to this series?
BYU and Boise State have met each year since 2012 and the current 12-year contract goes until 2023. They’ll take a one-year break before returning to action against one another beginning in 2025.
The first date of the new 10-year scheduling agreement is scheduled for October 25, 2025, in Boise. The following year, BYU will host Boise State on November 7, 2026, in Provo.
Eight of the 10 games to be played in September
One of the interesting aspects to this scheduling agreement is that eight of the 10 games will be played in the month of September.
Only two of BYU and Boise State’s meetings since 2012 have been played in the month of September.
Starting in 2027, the remaining 8 games of the new 10-game BYU-Boise St series will be played in the month of September each year.
That to me, looks like two programs making sure they have flexible scheduling to go into a new league when the next realignment wave happens.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 10, 2019
Why does this matter? Around the year 2025 is when TV contracts are expected to expire for major Power Five conferences. Both BYU and Boise State are programs that have aspirations of launching their athletic departments into Power Five conferences.
Having the final eight games of this 10-game series scheduled for the month of September gives each athletic department the flexibility to still be able to play out the series but also not cause scheduling headaches if either team goes into a new league.
Southern Utah back on the schedule
Along with a 10-game series with Boise State, BYU also announced that they have scheduled a game with Southern Utah for the 2023 season. The Thunderbirds will travel to Provo on November 18, 2023.
With the addition of Southern Utah, BYU now has 10 games scheduled for their 2023 schedule.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
