Utah Valley men’s soccer head coach Michael Chesler announced on May 20 the team’s non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2026 season, which will be the Wolverines’ first in The Big West Conference and Chesler’s first as head coach.
The announcement marks a significant step for Utah Valley as it transitions into a new conference and leadership. The team will play four home games at UCCU Stadium and four away matches during the traditional non-conference portion of its schedule. In addition, three late-season games against Pac-12 opponents are planned as part of an agreement between The Big West and Pac-12 conferences.
Chesler said the season will begin with two exhibition matches: “The Wolverines will host Snow College on August 7, then travel to Colorado to face perennial College Cup contender Denver on August 14.” Official competition starts with consecutive home games against Pacific Tigers and Central Arkansas Bears on August 20 and August 24. Utah Valley then travels to play Santa Clara Broncos on August 30.
September features a home game against Omaha Mavericks from the Summit League on September 3, followed by Utah Valley’s first-ever trip to West Virginia to play Marshall Thundering Herd—winners of the national championship in 2020 and runners-up in 2024—on September 10. The traditional non-conference slate concludes with an Old Hammer Rivalry match at Utah Tech in St. George on September 21.
Details about Utah Valley’s inaugural Big West conference schedule are expected soon. According to Chesler, “Utah Valley will play five games against the new-look Big West — UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Sacramento State, and CSUN — as well as three non-conference games against the Pac-12, with those opponents still being finalized.” Season tickets for fans will go on sale July 1.
