PROVO, Utah — BYU football is turning 100 this fall as it plays its 100th season in 2024.
Leading up to and throughout this milestone season, BYU Athletics will be providing fans with a variety of opportunities to celebrate and reminisce over the rich history and tradition of Cougar football while cheering on the 2024 team in its second season as a member of the Big 12 Conference.
The 100 seasons of Cougar football have not occurred consecutively, as BYU, like many other universities, did not field teams during World War II. The Cougars played their first intercollegiate varsity football season in 1922 as a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference. After being one of seven institutions to form the Mountain States Athletic Conference (also known as the Skyline Conference) in 1938, BYU took a three-year hiatus from the gridiron five years later from 1943-1945 due to World War II.
Since returning to the field in 1946, BYU has fielded a football team each fall as members of the Mountain States Conference (through 1961), Western Athletic Conference (1962-1998), Mountain West Conference (1999-2010), FBS Independent (2011-2022) and Big 12 Conference (2023-present) to make the 2024 season the university’s 100th football campaign.
The celebration of 100 seasons will start taking place in July leading up to the start of the team’s fall camp practices and continue throughout the 2024 season, which opens on Aug. 31 against Southern Illinois in LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Fans can participate and follow the latest announcements, news and updates about the 100 seasons of BYU football by going to BYUCougars.com/100 and the BYUCougars app. In addition to all the latest information about the special festivities, fans can read articles that feature and revisit the incredible history created by BYU players and coaches over the decades.
Listed below are a some of the planned festivities, while additional events and opportunities for fans and football alumni to enjoy in 2024 will be announced at later dates.
BYU50 | July 12-Aug. 30
BYU50 is back this summer, commemorating the 100 Seasons of BYU Football. Starting in Alabama on July 12, BYU will be dropping boxes in all 50 states, ending with Wyoming on Aug 30, the day before the season-opening game. Utah residents will have their chance to compete for a box on August 3. Check BYUCougars.com/100 and the BYUCougars app to get the latest news and updates regarding how to participate and the reveal of contents in each box.
Best Moments Bracket | July 15-30
Fans can vote on their favorite BYU football moments over the history of the program by visiting the Best Moments Bracket on BYUCougars.com/100 and the BYUCougars app. Will it be the 1990 upset of No. 1 Miami in 1990, Beck to Harline in 2006, the 1980 Holiday Bowl or another great moment?
100th Season Apparel | July 17
The 100th season apparel collection will be available through GOCougs.com, the Official Team Store of the BYU Cougars. The launch date for the special collection is July 17, 2024.
BYU Football: A Celebration of 100 Seasons | July 27
BYUtv will televise nationally a special two-hour live program entitled BYU Football: A Celebration of 100 Seasons on Saturday, July 27 from 7-9 p.m. MDT. The program will feature some of the legendary happenings over the century of Cougar football while highlighting BYU’s unique football legacy and history.
100 Greatest Photos | Aug. 1
100 seasons of BYU Football means a lot of memories, and even more photos. BYU will do the heavy lifting to narrow down the incredible photography captured by BYU Photo over the decades so fans can enjoy the 100 Greatest Photos.
Cougar Kickoff | Aug. 14
The annual meet-and-greet fan event with the football team and other sports teams at BYU will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Check BYUCougars.com/100 and the BYUCougars app to get the latest news and updates as the event approaches.
Gameday Activations | Home Games in 2024
Each home gameday this season will honor 100 Seasons of BYU Football. Listed below is a sampling of a few of the planned festivities with others still to be announced.
- Aug. 31 vs Southern Illinois — BYU will honor the 50th Anniversary and accomplishments of BYU’s first bowl team, the 1974 Fiesta Bowl team.
- Oct. 12 vs Arizona — BYU football’s National Award winners will be featured and honored as part of the 2024 homecoming game against former conference opponent and new Big 12 member Arizona.
- Oct. 18 vs Oklahoma State — BYU’s 1984 National Championship team will be featured and honored marking the 40th Anniversary of finishing No. 1 after going undefeated to win the national title. The game will also commemorate the 50th Anniversary of BYU facing Oklahoma State for the first time in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl.
- Nov. 16 vs Kansas — BYU’s members of the College Football Hall of Fame will be featured and honored when the Cougars take on Kansas in the stadium named after one of those Hall of Fame members, the legendary LaVell Edwards.
Check back at BYUCougars.com/100 and the BYUCougars app for the latest announcements and further details as each event approaches.