Texas was not the team that BYU basketball wanted to see in the Round of 64. Not that the Cougars shouldn't beat the Longhorns -- they're given a 60% chance of victory per KenPom -- but Texas' length, talent, athleticism, and coaching experience could give the Cougars plenty of challenges if Kevin Young's team gets off to a slow start.
BYU basketball has the single most valuable player in the entire NCAA Tournament field in AJ Dybantsa, the nation's leading scorer and projected top selection in the upcoming NBA Draft. They're also led by Rob Wright III, one of the craftiest point guards in the field, and the defensive prowess of Keba Keita, Kennard Davis, and Khadim Mboup.
Kevin Young led the Cougars to the Sweet 16 without Dybantsa last season, and enters this year's tournament from a nearly-identical position.
But if given the choice between Texas or NC State out of the First Four, BYU would have taken the Wolfpack in a heartbeat.
Dailyn Swain thinks Texas is "just as talented" as BYU👀 pic.twitter.com/sah3kOyd2T
— BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) March 18, 2026
Led by junior wing Dailyn Swain, a projected late-first, early second-round pick, giant Matas Vokietaitis, and coached by Sean Miller, the Longhorns struggled against SEC competition, but have the athletes to pester and disrupt the Cougars' game plan.
Against teams ranked comparably to Texas, BYU basketball is 3-0 on the year. They managed Miami, Villanova, and Clemson (all of which are included in the tournament), but have been incredibly uneven in the final stretch of the year in the absence of Richie Saunders. Sure, the highs have been high, and the most recent output suggests BYU basketball is peaking at the right time, but
When you compare these two programs' resumes through the regular season, the Cougars' advantage cautiously shrinks.
Tournament Resume: 6 BYU Cougars
NET Ranking: 23
KenPom Rating: 23
Key Wins: 5 Wisconsin, 2 Iowa State, 5 Texas Tech
Bad Losses: Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Cincinnati
Tournament Resume: 11 Texas Longhorns
NET Ranking: 42
KenPom Rating: 37
Key Wins: 4 Alabama, 5 Vanderbilt, 10 Texas A&M
Bad Losses: Arizona State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State
BYU is a notch above the Longhorns this season, but the gap between 6 and 11 is uncomfortably narrow. The Cougars will need to operate through Dybantsa in this one -- another disappearing act like the last five minutes of the Houston game could be fatal. Use the best player in the nation to strike mortal fear in the hearts of the burnt orange, and let the complimentary pieces, well, compliment.
BYU doesn't have the luxury of cruising past a midmajor in round one -- they're facing power conference athletes right from the jump. This is a game BYU should win, but with the Madness of March, there's no room to ease back into your living room sofa until the game clock hits triple-zero.
The Longhorns showed their warts in the First Four, as they narrowly escaped Darrion Williams and NC State, but BYU basketball is on upset watch.