BYU Basketball Enters Big 12 Gauntlet with Momentum, Ambition, and a Star in AJ Dybantsa
After a long holiday break, BYU men’s basketball is gearing up for the real test: the Big 12. The Cougars head into conference play with a sparkling 12-1 record, a top-10 NET ranking, and a team that looks far more battle-ready than it did a year ago. Saturday’s road matchup at Kansas State marks the beginning of an 18-game Big 12 slate that will not only define BYU’s postseason seeding but could shape the national conversation around one of the most intriguing programs in college basketball.
And make no mistake - BYU isn’t just hoping to hang around in the Big 12. This team has its sights set on a top seed in the NCAA Tournament, and with AJ Dybantsa playing like a legitimate Wooden Award contender, there’s real reason to believe they could get there.
A Resume That Holds Up
Let’s start with the numbers. BYU’s 12-1 record is backed by a resume that stacks up favorably with the nation’s best:
- NET Ranking: 9
- KenPom Ranking: 10
- Strength of Schedule (NET SOS): 50
- Quad 1 Record: 3-1
- Quad 2 Record: 2-0
- Quad 3 Record: 2-0
- Quad 4 Record: 5-0
That’s a well-rounded résumé, and it’s a massive step forward from last season. A year ago, BYU’s non-conference strength of schedule ranked 347th nationally.
This season? 93rd.
That’s not elite, but it’s a huge leap - and it’s already paying dividends. BYU picked up its third Quad 1 win by early December, a full seven weeks earlier than it did last year.
Could the Cougars have scheduled one more marquee game? Sure.
A matchup against a top-10 opponent like Arizona, UConn, or Alabama might’ve boosted their ceiling for a potential 1-seed. But that opportunity still exists - it just shifts to Big 12 play, where the road is brutal and the rewards are even greater.
Big 12: The Deep End of the Pool
If you’re looking for the toughest league in college basketball, look no further than the Big 12. The conference enters league play with four teams in the KenPom top 11 and six in the top 21. Even the so-called bottom teams are dangerous - Utah, currently the lowest-ranked Big 12 squad, beat an SEC team in Ole Miss.
BYU has struggled out of the gate in Big 12 play the past two seasons, starting 2-4 both years. But this time around, the Cougars are better equipped - deeper, more experienced, and led by a potential national player of the year in Dybantsa.
And the schedule? It opens with a manageable stretch.
The first four games feature matchups where BYU has at least a 78% win probability according to KenPom. Saturday’s opener at Kansas State is the toughest of the bunch - a Quad 1 game on the road - but BYU is an 8-point favorite in the predictive metrics.
The next three games? BYU should be favored by double digits.
If the Cougars handle business, they could head into a January 17 showdown at Texas Tech with a 4-0 Big 12 record and a chance to make a national statement.
The Midseason Gauntlet
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Because right after that softer start comes a stretch that’s about as unforgiving as it gets in college basketball.
From January 26 to February 9, BYU faces five straight Quad 1 opponents - three of them on the road:
- Arizona (Home)
- Kansas (Away)
- Oklahoma State (Away)
- Houston (Home)
- Baylor (Away)
That’s a stretch that can elevate a team’s résumé into elite territory - or expose its flaws in a hurry. And it doesn’t stop there. After a brief home breather against Colorado, the Cougars head to Arizona and then host Iowa State - both top-5 caliber teams.
That’s seven Quad 1 games in an eight-game span. It’s a gauntlet, plain and simple.
But it’s also a golden opportunity. Go .500 in that stretch, and BYU is firmly in the top-2 seed conversation.
Win the majority? That’s how you start talking about a 1-seed.
Chasing the Top Seed: Realistic or Reach?
Let’s talk ceilings. Last year, Houston earned a 1-seed despite three non-conference losses and a strength of schedule that ranked below where BYU sits now.
The key? A 19-1 record in Big 12 play and a sweep through the conference tournament.
That’s the kind of dominance it takes to earn a 1-seed out of the Big 12. Could BYU do it?
Sure. But realistically, a 2 or 3 seed feels more attainable - and still incredibly impressive for a program in just its second year in the conference.
The Cougars will face Arizona, Texas Tech, and Utah twice each in league play. That’s one top-ranked heavyweight, one top-20 team with a win over Duke, and one bottom-tier squad - a balanced trio that gives BYU both résumé-boosting chances and some margin for error.
Star Power and Storylines
AJ Dybantsa is the headliner - and he’s earned that spotlight. A scoring machine with elite shot creation and the kind of floor presence that shifts game plans, Dybantsa is firmly in the Wooden Award conversation. Saturday’s Big 12 opener will pit him against PJ Haggerty, another top scorer, in a nationally televised showdown on CBS - the first college basketball game of 2026.
But Dybantsa isn’t alone. Richie Saunders continues to build a legacy that could land him among the all-time greats in BYU history. The addition of big man Abdullah Ahmed gives the Cougars a new wrinkle in the frontcourt, and the early part of conference play should offer a soft enough landing for him to get up to speed.
And here’s the cherry on top: every single Big 12 game for BYU will be on network television. No ESPN+, no streaming-only blackouts.
Even the lone Peacock game against Arizona State will also air on NBC Sports Network. That’s the kind of exposure that elevates a program - and its stars - to national prominence.
What Comes Next
The end result - the seed, the tournament run, the banners - that’s what we’ll remember. But don’t overlook the journey.
This BYU team has the talent, the depth, and the schedule to make noise nationally. They’ve already proven they belong in the conversation.
Now comes the part where they prove just how far they can climb.
Big 12 play starts Saturday. Buckle up.