This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The good news for the Utah Utes is they get seven home games in 2013. The bad news is that most are all lumped together.

Utah will play five of its first six games at home and spend four of its last six weeks on the road.

All games will be on Saturdays, with the exception of Thursday games against Utah State and UCLA.

The Pac-12 Conference released the schedules Thursday.

The Utes open the season against Utah State on Aug. 29 and host Oregon State on Sept. 14 in the conference opener.

Utah's rivalry game at BYU is scheduled for Sept. 21. The Utes don't leave the state for a game until they travel to Arizona on Oct. 19.

Stanford and Oregon replace Cal and Washington on the schedule, giving the Utes a decidedly tougher conference road.

Stanford visits on Oct. 12, the second of a challenging four-game stretch in which the Utes host UCLA and Stanford, then play at Arizona and at USC.

"Having seven home games on the schedule is ideal for our program and something we haven't had the luxury of for quite a while," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "As is the case every year, there are positives and negatives to the schedule and we don't concern ourselves with overanalyzing it. Adding Stanford and Oregon to our rotation, two of the premier teams in the conference the past few years, should make this an attractive schedule for our fans."

Game times and broadcast channels will be announced at a later date.

The Pac-12 Championship game is set for Dec. 7 on the home field of the team with the best overall conference record. —

Utah's 2013 football schedule

Aug. 29 (Thu.) Utah State

Sept. 7 Weber State

Sept. 14 Oregon State*

Sept. 21 at BYU

Sept. 28 BYE

Oct. 3 (Thu.) UCLA*

Oct. 12 Stanford*

Oct. 19 at Arizona*

Oct. 26 at USC*

Nov. 2 BYE

Nov. 9 Arizona State*

Nov. 16 at Oregon*

Nov. 23 at Wash. State*

Nov. 30 Colorado*

*Denotes conference game