Utah basketball’s nonconference schedule is officially announced. Here’s what stands out

Alex Jensen’s 2026-27 squad will spend most of its nonconference schedule in the friendly confines of the Huntsman Center.

The Runnin’ Utes will play 12 of their 14 regular-season games ahead of Big 12 play in Salt Lake City, per the official announcement Thursday of Utah’s nonconference schedule.

Who is Utah basketball playing in its nonconference schedule?

• Oct. 7 — at UNLV | exhibition
• Oct. 17 — at Nevada | exhibition
• Oct. 21 — Oregon | exhibition
• Nov. 2 — Long Beach State
• Nov. 5 — Towson
• Nov. 10 — Weber State
• Nov. 14 — Washington
• Nov. 17 — Eastern Washington
• Nov. 20 — Charleston Classic, vs. Minnesota or Virginia Tech&^
• Nov. 22 — Charleston Classic, vs. Virginia Tech or Minnesota&^
• Dec. 2 — California
• Dec. 9 — Cal Baptist
• Dec. 13 — Abilene Christian
• Dec. 16 — Portland
• Dec. 19 — Sam Houston
• Dec. 22 — Southern Utah
• Dec. 29 — Air Force

& — TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina

^ — reported by Rocco Miller

What stands out about Utah’s nonconference schedule?

• Outside of the Utes’ multi-team event at the Charleston Classic, Utah’s two premier nonconference games come against Washington and California. The Utes lost to both the Huskies and Golden Bears on the road a year ago, but get them at home in the return game of a home-and-home series.
• Northwestern announced Thursday that the Charleston Classic will be a six-team field that includes Utah, Northwestern, Dayton, Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech.
• Rocco Miller previously reported that Utah will take on Virginia Tech and Minnesota at the Charleston Classic, though the exact schedule for the event has yet to be released.
• The Utes will face two in-state schools outside of Big 12 play, hosting Weber State and Southern Utah. The Utes needed overtime last season to avoid being upset by the Wildcats in Jensen’s first year.
• Former Mountain West rival Air Force returns to the schedule, as the Utes host the Falcons just before the new year.
• Last season, Utah hosted Nevada in an exhibition game and played at Oregon. The Utes will play those two teams again in exhibition, with both contests swapping venues.
• Utah added a third exhibition with a road contest at former Mountain West rival UNLV — this game will be the first chance to see Jensen’s newly revamped squad led by guard Noam Yaacov.

Who will Utah play in Big 12 Conference action?

Here’s a look at who Utah will play this season during its Big 12 schedule. Game times and dates will be released closer to the start of the season.

• Home and away: BYU, Colorado, Oklahoma State
• Home only: Baylor, Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, West Virginia
• Away only: Arizona, Arizona State, UCF, Houston, Iowa State, TCU