This is a prediction article, and I'm not going to bury the lede:
No. 25 BYU is going to manhandle Omaha.
The Cougars are coming off an impressive 11-point win over Ohio State to tip off their 2026-27 season. Kevin Young's squad put on an offensive clinic in the second half against the Buckeyes by scoring 60 points in the game's final 20 minutes.
Omaha (1-0) is coming off a 73-65 victory against the Mid American Christian Evangels. No disrespect to BYU's opponent from the Summit League, but the Mavericks went 16-17 last year. They faced two Power Five schools a season ago and lost by 26 to LSU and by 23 to Oregon. They will suffer a similar fate against BYU.
So instead of focusing on predicting the score in what should be a blowout, here's a better prediction:
BYU fans will fall in love with freshmen Brooks Bahr and Dean Rueckert as they get extended minutes against Omaha.
What's to love about Brooks Bahr
Brooks Bahr is a 6-foot-4 freshman guard from Keller, Texas. He was ranked as the No. 123 player in the class of 2024 by 247 Sports. He chose BYU over offers from the likes of USC, Wake Forest, Nebraska, and Oklahoma State. He opted to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Switzerland, Austria and Germany before returning this year to begin his college hoops career.
While most newly-returned missionaries often need a year to knock off the mission rust, Bahr has hit the ground running.
He has already carved out a meaningful spot in Kevin Young's rotation as evidenced by his 14 minutes against Ohio State in BYU's opener.
He's a muscular, almost stocky 6-foot-4 and has already delighted Cougar fans with his motor and hustle. He's physical, excitable, and his energy off the bench is infectious. Bahr has drawn numerous comparisons to Richie Saunders, and that's about as high of a compliment a freshman can get in Provo.
Assuming BYU has the game against Ohama in hand early, look for the returned missionary to get some extended playing time and flash his junkyard dog toughness.
Bahr's predicted stats vs. Omaha: 24 minutes, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
What's to love about Dean Rueckert
Again, assuming BYU's starters put the game away early against Omaha, get ready for a healthy dose of true freshman Dean Rueckert.
While it's exhilarating for BYU to produce one-and-done superstars like Egor Demin, AJ Dybantsa, and Bruce Branch III, it's also nice to have local guys with Provo ties dot the roster. Rueckert, a 6-foot-8 sweet-shooting forward fits that bill.
Rueckert played his high school ball in the shadows of the Marriott Center at nearby Timpview High School. He was a local prep legend in the Beehive State after being named Utah 5A Player of the Year twice, claiming that title in 2025 and 2026.
But he wasn't just a local sensation, he was a national one, too. Rueckert was ranked as the No. 91 prospect in the class of 2026 by 247 Sports. Landing an in-state Top 100 talent is essential for BYU's long-term stability and success. Cougar fans love having local heroes to cheer for, and they'll be able to do just that with Rueckert against Omaha.
BYU fans are going to see a tall, wiry forward with a beautiful 3-pointer and see some traces of a young Larry Bird. Now, I don't want to set the bar too high for Rueckert, but at his size and with his pure release and curly blonde hair, BYU fans might see a bit of Larry Legend in him. His potential is off the charts, and he's going to put it on display against Omaha.
Rueckert's predicted stats vs. Omaha: 16 minutes, 11 points (with three 3-pointers, 4 rebounds
Final score: BYU 97, Omaha 66
Add us as a preferred source on Google