This season's edition of BYU basketball may feature the most talented roster in program history.
I don't say this to be hyperbolic. I don't say it to be edgy. I don't even say it to praise Kevin Young for the way in which he put the squad together. From top to bottom, this is a team that has the talent to compete with some of the very best in the nation.
Last year had the high-end talent necessary to compete in AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, and Rob Wright III, but they had no depth to back up their top-heavy rotation. Injuries sank that ship quickly.
From Collin Chandler to Jaxon Kohler, and from Rob Wright to Bruce Branch, this year's team is balanced, talented, and complementary across the board. They're built to last better than last season's squad, even without the eventual number-one overall pick on their roster (unless Branch continues his incredible play).
We're days away from the season opener, so I'm planting my flag right now. Here are my predictions for every single game on BYU basketball's 2026-27 season schedule.
2026-27 BYU basketball game-by-game predictions
11/2 vs. Ohio State: Win, 72-60
Opening the year in the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, this is essentially a home game for BYU basketball. The Cougars have looked sharp against two good basketball programs in preseason, and they remain sharp in game one.
11/6 - vs. Omaha: Win, 88-65
11/10 vs. Queens: Win, 102-71
11/12 vs. Montana State: Win, 94-55
11/18 vs. Northern Colorado: Win, 89-73
11/23 vs. Washington: Win, 69-66
Washington has struggled as a program in recent years despite some excellent recruiting in 2025. BYU's second Big Ten foe of the year gives the Cougars their best shot in the opening round of the Maui Invitational, but BYU holds on.
11/24 vs. Ole Miss/Clemson: Win
BYU will face one of these two opponents in the second round in Maui, and I expect the Cougars to have the firepower to take down either.
11/25 Maui Final TBD: Loss
Despite the fact that BYU could face a number of teams in a potential championship game, seeing the Arizona Wildcats in the field doesn't make me comfortable predicting a win, so I won't.
12/5 vs. Northwestern: Win, 78-72
The Aleksej Kostic revenge game in the Delta Center? Count. Me. In. The third Big Ten team on BYU's non-conference slate, I predict the Cougars advance to 3-0, but the Wildcats keep it close.
12/9 vs. Utah State: Win, 65-63
A nail-biter against a very good Utah State team. If BYU can hold off the Aggies with the benefit of the Marriott Center crowd, that's a signature non-conference win.
12/12 vs. Cal State Fullerton: Win, 84-64
12/15 vs. Weber State: Win, 91-72
12/19 vs. San Diego State: Loss, 69-76
It saddens me to say this, but in what is essentially a road game in Palm Springs, BYU gets caught looking ahead to the Christmas break and is stunned by their old MWC rivals.
12/22 vs. LaSalle: Win, 90-76
Non-conference record: 12-2
BYU Basketball Big 12 Conference Schedule
1/2 at Arizona State: Win, 76-66
BYU basketball's first "true" road game of the year, and it comes in the Big 12 opener against Arizona State. Cougars win comfortably in Tempe.
1/6 vs. Cincinnati: Win, 84-80
1/9 vs. Kansas: Loss, 82-71
Kansas is Kansas, and BYU has not faced any foe as good as the Jayhawks to this point in the year (unless they meet Arizona in Maui, of course). Cougars' late comeback effort falls short, and Kevin Young's squad is taught a lesson by a blue blood.
1/12 at Arizona: Loss, 79-73
This is no time to panic -- Kansas and Arizona back-to-back is a brutal scheduling stretch. Focus on the quality of BYU's performance against elite competition, rather than the final result. If they keep the final score within 6, as they do in this forecast, that's an output BYU can live with.
1/16 vs. Utah: Win, 83-67
BYU hosts a Holy War matchup fresh off consecutive losses. They're angry, and they let it out on the overmatched Utes.
1/20 at Iowa State: Win, 75-74
BYU has stolen many games from Iowa State over the years, and they sneak out of Hilton with a narrow, narrow victory once again. First "upset" of the year for the Cougs.
1/23 vs. West Virginia: Win, 90-74
1/27 at TCU: Win, 80-76
1/30 at Houston: Loss, 74-66
Road games in Houston have not been Kevin Young's forte, and this year will be no different.
2/2 vs. Baylor: Win, 77-68
2/6 at Utah: Win, 86-68
2/13 vs. Kansas State: Win, 80-71
2/17 at Colorado: Win, 76-63
2/20 vs. TCU: Loss, 69-74
Letdown spot for the Cougars right before hosting Arizona. BYU is prone to at least one head-scratching home loss per season, and they lose their grip on home court advantage to the Horned Frogs.
2/22 vs. Arizona: Win, 72-70
The duality of BYU basketball. Lose one, win one. Last year's team nearly took down an exceptional Arizona squad in Provo with a frantic comeback effort. This year, it's the Wildcats who can't close the gap as the final buzzer sounds.
2/27 at UCF: Win, 64-59
An early game, 1:00 PM local time in Orlando, and both teams will come out a bit sluggish. Good teams win close games, and I expect BYU to do just that.
3/2 vs. Oklahoma State: Win, 92-80
3/5 at Texas Tech: Loss, 77-70
It's not the season finale we want, but Tech wins games in Lubbock.
Final Big 12 Conference record: 13-5
Overall record: 25-7
Last year's record: 21-10 (9-9 Big 12)
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