BYU needs to find a new nonconference opponent for 2026.
The Cougars’ original Week 2 matchup against Cal next season has been canceled, according to a report from Mitch Harper of KSL Sports.
Cal made the decision to pull the plug on both next year’s Sept. 12 game in Provo and BYU’s subsequent 2027 return trip to Berkeley.
The move comes as the ACC plans for a nine-game conference schedule next year rather than the previous eight-game slate, requiring the Golden Bears to get out of one of their originally scheduled nonconference contests.
Cal already has a Power Four opponent on its schedule for next year in instate and Big Ten foe UCLA, thus putting the Cougars on the Golden Bears’ chopping block.
Without Cal, BYU’s nonconference opponents in 2026 are Utah Tech and Colorado State. The Big 12 requires each of its schools to participate in one Power Four nonconference matchup outside of league play, thus putting the Cougars on the hunt to find someone from the Big Ten, ACC or SEC to face next September.