PROVO, Utah — BYU men’s basketball is ranked in the AP Preseason Poll in consecutive years for a third time in program history and first since 1979-81.
The Cougars enter the season No. 25 in the poll with 179 points and are one of six Big 12 schools represented in the poll joined by No. 5 Arizona, No. 10 Houston, No. 17 Kansas, No. 18 Iowa State and No. 17 Texas Tech.
TWENTY-FIVE. https://t.co/KzMx8UXXLY
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) October 19, 2026
Third-year head coach Kevin Young is one win shy of 50 for his career as the he has led the Cougars to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2025. He is one of seven active NCAA Division I head coaches with a No. 1 pick with AJ Dybantsa being selected with the first pick in this past summer’s draft by the Washington Wizards.
Preseason All-American Robert Wright III returns for his junior season after averaging a career-high 18.1 points per game last season, shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 41.0 percent from three and 82.1 percent from the free throw line. He is joined by five-star freshman Bruce Branch III and transfers Collin Chandler, Tyler Betsey, Jaxon Kohler and Jake Wahlin.
BYU opens the 2026-27 season on Monday, Nov. 2 when the Cougars face off against Ohio State at the Delta Center. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. for FS1.