Look, it's been a rough stretch for BYU basketball in the early running of the Big 12 slate.
To be fair, few expected this team to pass through the gauntlet of Arizona, Texas Tech, and Kansas unscathed -- that's about as tough of a stretch as any team will face all season -- but the recent loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater revealed that there are fundamental issues with this year's basketball team. Those shortcomings were on full display on the road, and now, having lost three straight games, the Cougars are desperate to find something -- anything -- to change the fate of this group.
Unfortunately, any adjustments and improvements will have to be made with a top 10 program on the opposite bench. The good news? One should never count the Cougars out when playing in the Marriott Center, and this team has their backs against the wall.
The Houston Cougars have had their way with BYU basketball since the programs joined the Big 12 Conference. In these programs' two meetings last year, Houston won by an average of 25.5 points, and in all honesty, that number feels smaller than the pain of viewership would attest.
In BYU's first meeting with Houston, the home Cougars nearly stole an upset against the Coogs.
Are you dizzy trying to keep up with all the 'Cougars' thrown around in this article?
BYU basketball is desperate for a marquee victory. Houston is on a rampage, having won 14 of their last 15 games, and losing to only Texas Tech and Tennessee on the year. Oddly enough, however, these eighth-ranked Coogs approach Provo, Utah as just 2.5-point favorites. Can BYU find a way to get back on track, or is their nightmarish defense doomed to be torn apart by their elite opposition?
How to watch BYU vs Houston:
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
Time: 8:30 PM MT
Location: Marriott Center, Provo, UT
Channel: ESPN