The 2026 BYU men’s basketball team isn’t just good - they’re electric. This isn’t your typical Cougars squad grinding through a rebuild or flying under the radar.
This is a group with a potential No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick, multiple All-American talents, and a head coach with NBA pedigree steering the ship. And in just Kevin Young’s second season at the helm, BYU has become one of the most compelling stories in college basketball.
In a Big 12 stacked with national powerhouses - Kansas, Arizona, Houston - it’s BYU that’s setting the price of admission. Literally. Right now, the Cougars are the hottest ticket in the toughest league in the country.
The Price of Greatness
Let’s talk numbers. As of this week, the average price for the cheapest ticket to a BYU home game on SeatGeek - the official secondary ticket partner for BYU Athletics - is $150.75.
That’s not just high by BYU standards. That’s the highest average in the entire Big 12.
For comparison, the next closest is Kansas at $121.38.
And it’s not just one marquee matchup inflating the numbers. Five of BYU’s final eight home games are trending above the $180 mark.
The most expensive? A Jan. 26 showdown with No. 1-ranked Arizona - a potential top-10 clash in Provo, with the No.
11 Cougars looking to make a statement on their home floor. If the rankings hold, it would be the first top-10 matchup in the Marriott Center since Jimmer Fredette and No.
9 BYU took down Kawhi Leonard’s No. 4 San Diego State team back in 2011.
Tickets are constantly fluctuating, so whether that $150 baseline holds until tipoff is anyone’s guess. But right now, BYU isn’t just playing like a top team - they’re being treated like one at the box office.
Road Games Aren’t Cheap Either
The buzz around BYU isn’t confined to Provo. When the Cougars visit Kansas’ legendary Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 31, the cheapest ticket available is $204.
That’s Kansas - the gold standard of Big 12 basketball - and BYU is helping drive demand. That’s not something we’ve said about the Cougars in a long time.
Fans Are Showing Up - But Not Everyone Can
Despite the rising prices, fans are still packing the Marriott Center. BYU’s first Big 12 home game of the season - a matchup against Arizona State - drew a sold-out crowd of 18,009.
That’s more than any other Big 12 arena can even hold. The Marriott Center, with an official capacity of 17,978, remains the biggest venue in the conference, and right now, it’s standing-room-only.
But while the atmosphere is electric, not everyone is thrilled about the cost. Some longtime fans have voiced frustration, particularly families who’ve been priced out of the experience. One fan shared that he wanted to bring his family of five to a non-conference game earlier in the season - but at $60 per seat, the $300 total was too steep.
Another fan, who’s been attending games annually since 2012, said this will be the first year he won’t make it to the Marriott Center. Season ticket prices have also jumped. One fan noted a $300 increase in his usual section, prompting a move to the upper bowl to stay within budget.
Season Tickets? Good Luck
Even with those price hikes, season tickets didn’t just sell - they sold out. And fast.
BYU implemented a tiered priority system for buyers, with Cougar Club members and high donors getting first crack. This year, tickets were gone before the system even reached the Silver Club - the fourth of six tiers.
In a statement, BYU Athletics acknowledged the frustration from some fans but emphasized the bigger picture: “Demand continues to outpace supply for season tickets available. While we understand the frustration from some about what it means for them, overall, this is a very good sign of the overall health of our program.”
And they’re right. The demand is a reflection of what’s happening on the court - a team that’s winning, entertaining, and filled with future pros.
The Dybantsa Effect
There’s no denying it: AJ Dybantsa has changed the game in Provo. Along with Richie Saunders and a deep, talented roster, Dybantsa has elevated BYU to national relevance. This is a team with legitimate Final Four aspirations, and fans know they’re witnessing something special - maybe even historic.
The last time Marriott Center tickets were this hot? Jimmermania in 2011. And just like that unforgettable season, this one feels like it could be remembered for years to come.
So if you want to say you were there - that you saw Dybantsa light it up in Provo before he heads to the NBA - you’re going to have to pay for it.
But if you’re willing to wait, you might catch him next season at the Delta Center - and odds are, that ticket will cost you a whole lot less.