The BYU Cougars and Kansas Jayhawks have squared off as Big 12 rivals only once on the basketball court, and twice on the football field. In a shocking reversal of expectations, BYU holds the advantage when it comes to hoops, and Kansas leads the way on the gridiron.
On Tuesday night, these two programs will clash on the floor of the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University as equals. In Big 12 Conference play, both sides enter this game with a record of 8-6. Both with exciting wins and disappointing losses filling their game logs to this point, each team will take the floor in Provo with a similar message to deliver to the nation.
Stop doubting us. We're still here.
Bill Self's Kansas program is among the most storied runs in the history of the sport. A blue blood through to the core, these Jayhawks belong to a line of legendary squads that have won national championships, countless conference crowns, and are a perennial top-25 program.
But since a January 22nd win against TCU, these 'Hawks are caught in a twirling carousel of alternating wins and losses. Up then down this team from Lawrence has gone, taking down UCF Iowa State and Colorado with Red-L decorated gaps courtesy of Houston, Kansas State, and Houston.
With an overall record of 14-4, the Jayhawks were comfortably ranked 12th nationally when they took down TCU. Today, they're nearly out of the top 25 (sitting at 23rd) entirely for the first time all season, matching BYU's 17-8 record.
These are two very evenly-matched sides capable of collecting a victory on Tuesday night. For BYU, this meeting provides another chance to snag a big-name victory against a 15th NET-ranked Kansas team. For the Jayhawks, stability and a new direction hold their program together for a dangerous environment in Provo.
BYU, coming off a double-digit home win against another Sunflower State suitor in Kansas State, comfortably halted the hottest squad in the sport. Not too shabby for a team still firmly planted on the ever-delicate March Madness bubble.
Still without a season-defining win beyond Baylor, however, Kevin Young and his Cougars are anxious to give the selection team a reason to slot BYU into the final field of 68. Tired of the variable tangle at the bottom of the field, this team -- much like Kansas -- wants stability.
The Jayhawks boast a top-10 defense nationally against a BYU team that historically loves to run and gun. A hyper-efficient offense orchestrated by Kevin Young could struggle to score with much consistency against Kansas, especially if they play with a similar pressure-heavy look to Arizona or Houston, but if the Cougars get hot from beyond the arc, Kansas may be helpless to slow their flow.
Don't let their recent struggles distract from the fact that this is a team more than capable of filling it up themselves. Stuffed with elite college athletes and typical Kansas-level recruiting, the Jayhawks slump could be snapped in an instant.
I expect BYU to hang around in this one before sneaking off with a tight victory down the stretch. Making free throws will be crucial here, and I see the Cougars making just enough to escape with a win.
Prediction: BYU 71, Kansas 68
How to Watch BYU vs Kansas
Date: February 18, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM MT
Location: Marriott Center, Provo, UT
Channel: ESPN