Iowa State off Utes' 2011 schedule

Utah's 2011 football schedule is expected to take shape in the coming weeks following meetings with the Pac-10 athletic directors and presidents, but at least one thing is known for sure: the Utes won't be playing Iowa State in Rice-Eccles Stadium next year.

The game, scheduled for Sept. 1, 2011, was dropped since both teams are revamping their schedules due to the changes in conference schedules and alignments.

The game will not be rescheduled.

Also Monday, it was announced Utah's game at Iowa State on Oct. 9 will kick off at 5 p.m. MDT and will be televised by Fox College Sports.

The No. 13 Utes have a bye this week after beating San Jose State 56-3 on Saturday.

Utah has negotiated a deal to play Montana State next year although a date has yet to be finalized, sources have told The Tribune.

The Utes are 9-0 against the Bobcats, a streak that includes six shutouts. The teams last played in 1982, when the Utes won 30-12.

The Utes also have games at Boise State and Pittsburgh on their nonconference schedule for 2011. Nothing has been finalized with those games, Utah athletic director Chris Hill said.

Utah must allow for what is expected to be a nine-game Pac 10 schedule, which means the Utes can play only three nonconference games.

However it all works out, Hill said he is "very optimistic" a deal will be reached to play BYU next season.

"It's definitely a series we want to continue," he said. "I'm very optimistic it is going to happen."

Hill will attend meetings with other Pac-10 athletic directors in San Francisco next week when items such as division alignment and revenue sharing will be discussed.

Several division scenarios are on the table, including a North/South divisional alignment with Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State forming the North division and Arizona, Arizona State, USC, Cal, Stanford and UCLA forming the South division.

Other divisional possibilities are the 'zipper' plan in which Utah would be in a West division with Washington, UCLA, Cal, Arizona State and Oregon State and a three-pod divisional system in which Utah and Colorado would be lumped with Arizona and Arizona State.

In the pod system, the schools would play the opponents in their pod every year and three of the four teams in the other two pods.

Hill, like other athletic directors, said it is important for the Utes to play the Southern California schools.

"Everyone wants to play those schools and we share that same desire," he said. "I'd like to see it spread around as much as possible because it's not only important for recruiting, but we have a strong alumni base in that area too.

Hill's most immediate concern, he said, is ensuring the Utes have a minimum of six home games on the schedule.

lwodraska@sltrib.com Twitter: @sltributes, @lyawodraska —

No. 13 Utah at Iowa State

P Oct. 9, 5 p.m. MDT

TV • Fox College Sports