This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

For a team going through offensive changes, the 2017 Utah football schedule opens friendly and closes that way as well.

The Pac-12 released dates for the upcoming football season on Wednesday, and Utah'sseason starts on Thursday, Aug. 31st against North Dakota at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah will have seven home games this coming season, and only leave the state four times.

The Utes, replacing their offensive coordinator once again, will have some advantages, but will also visit some of the most hostile road venues in the Pac-12.

For those worried about another late November slide — as the Utes have suffered the last three seasons while in contention for the Pac-12 South title — Utah will at least have the benefit of a home-heavy finish. Three of Utah's last four games are at home: against UCLA (Nov. 3), Washington State (Nov. 11) and Colorado (Nov. 25).

But Utah also has three of the toughest road games in the conference: at USC (Oct. 14), at Oregon (Oct. 28) and at Washington (Nov. 18). The Utes play all but one of their conference games after their bye this season, the last weekend of September.

The Utes open Pac-12 play in Tucson at Arizona on Friday, Sept. 22 — one of two games Utah will play on Friday along with its home game against UCLA.

After the bye, Utah's game against the Trojans will be sandwiched by home games against Stanford (Oct. 7) and Arizona State (Oct. 21). The Utes close out the month visiting Eugene.

All conference games will be televised nationally, although the TV schedule has not yet been announced. Utah won't play Cal or Oregon State next season, resuming series with Stanford and Washington State.

After a non-conference schedule that opens with North Dakota, Utah will travel to Provo to face BYU on Sept. 9, then come back home to play San Jose State on Sept. 16.

Twitter: @kylegoon —

2017 Utah football schedule

Aug. 31 North Dakota

Sept. 9 at BYU

Sept. 16 San Jose State

Sept. 22 at Arizona*

Sept. 30 Bye

Oct. 7 Stanford*

Oct. 14 at USC*

Oct. 21 Arizona State*

Oct. 28 at Oregon*

Nov. 3 UCLA*

Nov. 11 Washington St.*

Nov. 18 at Washington*

Nov. 25 Colorado*

*Pac-12 game