Mar 2, 2021

SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 Conference today announced its 2021 football schedule during a special three-hour broadcast on Pac-12 Network and SiriusXM Pac-12 Radio. Pairing a competitive nine-game Conference schedule with a slate of marquee non-conference matchups, the 2021 schedule includes: 

• Nine games against Power Five opponents outside of the Pac-12 and two against Notre Dame
• Four contests against teams that finished Top 5 in the 2020 final College Football Playoff rankings
• 10 games against non-Pac-12 teams that finished in the Top 25 in the 2020 final College Football Playoff rankings
• 11 games against Group of Five opponents and five games against BYU

The 2021 football season is set to open on Saturday, August 28, as UCLA hosts Hawai’i before the full slate kicks off with all 12 teams playing the following week, including two games on Thursday, Sept. 2, one game on Friday, Sept. 3, and nine on Saturday, Sept. 4.

During the first two weeks of the regular season, the Pac-12 schedule will feature non-conference matchups against Power Five opponents including UCLA vs. LSU (Sept. 4), STANFORD vs. Kansas State (Sept. 4 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Tex.), OREGON STATE at Purdue (Sept. 4), OREGON at Ohio State (Sept. 11), WASHINGTON at Michigan (Sept. 11), CALIFORNIA at TCU (Sept. 11) and COLORADO vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 11 at Empower Field at Mile High). The following week, on Saturday, Sept. 18, the Cardinal will travel to Vanderbilt while the Buffs host Minnesota, rounding out the Pac-12’s schedule vs. Power Five opponents over the season’s first three weeks.

Stanford this season will end its schedule by hosting Notre Dame on Saturday, Nov. 27, while USC will travel to South Bend to play the Fighting Irish on Saturday, Oct. 23.

In total, the Pac-12 will see five contests against BYU, including ARIZONA vs. BYU on Saturday, Sept. 4, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as 11 contests against Group of Five opponents, including matchups against Arkansas State, Fresno State (two total), Hawai’i (two total), Nevada, San Diego State (two total), San Jose State, UNLV and Utah State.

Pac-12 play will get started in Week Two, as Stanford travels to USC on Saturday, Sept. 11, followed by USC at WASHINGTON STATE on Saturday, Sept. 18, before the full Conference slate kicking off Week Four.

In keeping with tradition, rivalry games will be played over the final two weeks of the regular season, followed by the 2021 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, presented by 76®, which will take place for the first time at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Friday, Dec. 3.  

The schedule includes two Thursday matchups (both in Week One) and nine Friday matchups, including the league’s title game.

A combination of the ESPN channels, ABC, FOX and FS1 will broadcast 45 games nationally, including the Pac-12 Championship Game, and Pac-12 Networks will offer 36 games to a national audience. Exact broadcast schedules will be determined at a later date.

COURTESY THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE