BYU is just three days away from returning to the Marriott Center hardwood.
The Cougars will host Nebraska in an exhibition Friday, giving the world its first look at Kevin Young’s new roster of 3-point snipers.
BYU’s return to the NCAA Tournament will feature a number of memorable matchups, including a Thanksgiving trip to Hawaii for the three-game Maui Invitational, two matchups with defending Big 12 champion Arizona, and of course, a pair of rivalry matchups with the Utah Runnin’ Utes.
Here are five more compelling contests from the Cougars’ 2026-27 schedule to mark on your calendar.
BYU vs. Ohio State – Monday, November 2 in Salt Lake City
BYU will have a legitimate test for its regular season opener.
Ohio State, a veteran Big Ten team that made the NCAA Tournament last year, will await the Cougars at the Delta Center.
This will feature a battle of five-star freshman forwards, with BYU’s Bruce Branch III and prized Buckeye Anthony Thompson facing off in their respective collegiate debuts.
With so many new pieces in the rotation, the Cougars likely won’t be the most polished out of the gate – but an encouraging win against Ohio State would be a great way to build some early momentum and confidence for the upcoming season.
Utah State at BYU – Wednesday, December 9 at Provo
A historic rivalry has returned.
In-state bragging rights will be on the line as Utah State visits Provo for the first time since 2021, marking BYU’s most intriguing non-conference opportunity by far.
The Aggies have gone 109-31 over the past four seasons, becoming the darling of the Mountain West and an NCAA Tournament staple despite having three different head coaches during that span.
Now led by Ben Jacobson and competing in the Pac-12, Utah State will surely be excited for the opportunity to upset a Big 12 foe and stake claim to the Beehive State’s basketball superiority.
And don’t forget the Aggies’ new point guard Dallin Hall, who played 100 games for BYU from 2022-25 and will make his return to the Marriott Center. It should be an emotional outing for everyone involved.
Kansas at BYU – Saturday, January 9 at Provo
It’s always a pleasure when a blue blood comes to town.
Kansas will make its second trip to the Marriott Center after three Big 12 games, and with an 11 a.m. tipoff on ESPN, there will be no shortage of eyes on the game.
BYU routed the Jayhawks in Provo by a historic 91-57 margin in 2025, only for Kansas to get revenge a year later at Allen Fieldhouse as Darryn Peterson defeated AJ Dybantsa. Every meeting between these two teams tends to be electric.
Led by consensus No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes, Kansas should return to typical conference championship form in what could be legendary head coach Bill Self’s final season with the program. Maybe the Cougars and Jayhawks will meet in the Big 12 tournament.
BYU at Houston — Saturday, January 30 in Houston
Since joining the Big 12 in 2023, there is only one conference opponent that BYU has yet to beat: Kelvin Sampson’s Red Cougars.
Houston is 97-17 over the past three seasons, having reached seven straight Sweet 16s as well as the national championship game in 2025.
BYU played tough against Houston in two games last season, leading midway through the second half before losing by 11 and seven points each.
Sampson’s team will almost certainly make the preseason top 25, but the Red Cougars are not currently expected to enter the national title conversation. BYU’s projected high-powered perimeter attack could challenge Houston’s famed defense to finally get that long-awaited victory.
BYU at Texas Tech — Friday, March 5 in Lubbock
They may only face each other once this year, but any BYU-Texas Tech matchup always seems a little more important.
March 5 will be no exception, with the Cougars and Red Raiders playing an FS1 showcase Friday night for the regular season finale. It’s quite possible that the final seeding of the following week’s Big 12 tournament will be on the line in Lubbock.
Additionally, Texas Tech star JT Toppin, who is currently recovering from a torn ACL, should be back at full strength by then. In his last appearance against BYU, he scored 27 points with 13 rebounds.
BYU upset the Red Raiders to close out the 2026 regular season – maybe history will repeat itself. The Cougars have yet to travel to Kansas City for the conference tournament immediately following a loss.
Gn sports
