SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 Conference announced its 2023 soccer schedule today during a one-hour special broadcast on the Pac-12 network. The 2023 schedule includes a competitive nine-game conference schedule and a number of extra-conference marquee games:
10 games against Power Five opponents outside of the Pac-12 and two more against Notre Dame
Five competitions against non-conference teams that made it into the final AP Top 25 rankings and two more against teams that received votes.
18 games against non-conference teams that played in bowl games (15 schools) and another three against teams that participated in the FCS playoffs
15 games against Group of Five opponents
The 2022 football season opens with a game in Week Zero as USC and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams host San Jose State on Saturday, August 26.
A full list of all 12 schools in action begins in the first week. The Kenny Dillingham era begins in Tempe on Thursday, August 31, when Arizona hosts southern Utah. Reigning Pac-12 champions UTAH open their season either this Thursday or Saturday at home against Florida. Troy Taylor practices his first game with STANFORD on Friday, September 1 when the Cardinal travels to Hawaii. Nine other teams are in action this Saturday, September 2, including the debut of “Coach Prime” when COLORADO and Deion Sanders travel to Texas to face TCU, fresh from their appearance in the national championship game.
During the first three weeks of the regular season, the Pac-12 schedule will feature non-conference matchups against 10 Power Five opponents, seven of which will compete in week two. Three of the seven Power Five encounters on Saturday, September 9 are repeat matches from last year, with ARIZONA visiting Mississippi State, ARIZONA State hosting Oklahoma State and WASHINGTON State welcoming Wisconsin to the Palouse. Two Big 12-Pac-12 clashes also occur this Saturday, with UTAH heading to Baylor and OREGON visiting Texas Tech. The second week will also see the next installment in the Nebraska-COLORADO rivalry, and in CALIFORNIA, Auburn, only the Tigers’ second away game, will be played at a Pac-12 school. Week three is home to another repeat of last season as WASHINGTON takes on Michigan State in their first trip to East Lansing since 1969.
STANFORD and USC will continue their annual streak with Notre Dame next season. The Trojans visit South Bend in week seven while the Cardinal hosts the Irish to wrap up the regular season.
The Pac-12 game gets underway in week two when STANFORD travels to USC on Saturday, September 10 before the full conference schedule begins in week four.
Traditionally, Rivalry games will be played during the final two weeks of the regular season, followed by the 2023 Pac-12 Football Championship Game presented by 76, which will be held for the third straight year at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Friday, May 1. December.
The schedule includes at least one matchup on Thursday (in week one) and at least six matchups on Friday, with Arizona yet to be decided on Friday versus Saturday at USC in week six.
A combination of ESPN channels ABC, FOX and FS1 will broadcast 45 games nationally, including the Pac-12 championship game, while Pac-12 Networks will bring 35 games to a national audience. Exact broadcast dates will be determined at a later date.