No. 25 BYU and Ohio State open their seasons Monday in Salt Lake City with both programs carrying a clear target: do more than just reach the NCAA Tournament.
For BYU, that meant more than a little sting after last season’s run. Kevin Young’s first year on the bench produced 26 wins and a Sweet 16 trip in 2024-25, but the Cougars finished 23-12 overall and 9-9 in the Big 12 before being upset by No. 11 seed Texas in the opening round.
Ohio State’s story ended the same way. The Buckeyes went 21-13 and 12-8 in the Big Ten, reached the tournament for the first time since 2022, and then quickly fell to No.
9 TCU.
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler, entering his third full season after going 8-3 as interim coach in 2023-24, made it clear that merely getting there is not the bar.
"From Day 1 I've leaned into the standard of this program," he said. "That's the goal, to get back to those peaks of this program.
I'm not afraid of those expectations. I'm not afraid of the standard that is this program.
In fact, we're trying to take it to the top and that's the mentality I want our guys to have."
BYU’s biggest challenge is replacing the production of AJ Dybantsa and Richie Saunders. Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, led the nation last season with 25.5 points per game and shot 51.0% from the field. Saunders, who was averaging 18.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in 25 games before a season-ending knee injury, was taken with the No. 32 pick by the Memphis Grizzlies.
That leaves Robert Wright III as the headliner for the Cougars. He averaged 18.1 points and 4.6 assists last season, and BYU associate head coach Tim Fanning said the guard has taken another step forward.
"Rob was one of the best point guards in the country last year, and he's improved a lot," Fanning said. "His body has improved a lot and his shooting has improved a lot. He's a guy that's clearly on an upward trend just as an individual in his development, and so having a guy like that back is massive for the team.
"I think we did a really good job of surrounding him with shooting so I think we're going to be a really tough team to stop."
Ohio State will lean on John Mobley Jr., who averaged 15.7 points per game as a sophomore and says he should be ready after twisting his ankle late in the Buckeyes’ final exhibition game against Butler on Oct. 25.
"I feel good. I just stepped on a foot.
Little roll. Felt there was no need to go back in.
It's better off just resting it," Mobley said, calling it a "minor" injury.
Amare Bynum is the other returning starter for Ohio State. The freshman averaged 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds last season, and he said he understands Diebler’s push for more from him offensively.
"Especially in transition, if I see that open lane, I'm going to go and take it and get a bucket," Bynum said. "I know we still have to work on some things before the BYU game. But we just have to keep playing together and we have to be better on defense with a little bit better communication."
In Other News...
BYU Has A Chance To Answer One Big Question Against ASU
BYU gets a fresh chance to size itself up against Arizona State this week, and there is a bit more history attached to this meeting than your usual Big 12 matchup. It is the first time the programs have seen each other since their contentious 2024 game, and this one comes with a useful measuring-stick feel for a Cougars team that wants to know how it stacks up against a league opponent with a similar profile in some areas but not all of them.
The numbers suggest BYU may have the edge where it matters most. The Cougars passing game and pass defense compare favorably with ASUs offense, which has had trouble sustaining drives and converting on third down, and BYUs front could also create problems for Sun Devil quarterbacks, who have taken sacks at a higher rate than some of ASUs earlier opponents. If that plays out, BYU could get an answer to one of the bigger questions hanging over this matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Young Just Added More Emotion To BYUs Notre Dame Win
Steve Youngs reaction to BYUs upset over Notre Dame was as emotional as the finish itself. The former Cougars star said on The Dan Patrick Show that he unintentionally rushed the field after the final play, a scene that fit the kind of night this was for BYU, with a marquee win and a tense ending all rolled into one.
The clock issue only added another layer to the conversation, with the Big 12 later acknowledging that one second should have remained and Notre Dame should have been given another snap. Young defended his reaction while also acknowledging the controversy around the timing, which means the win still carries the buzz of a signature moment and the lingering debate of how it should have ended. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Got An Early Big 12 Reality Check
The Big 12s preseason media poll offered an early reminder of how steep the climb still is in Provo. The leagues 16 teams were sorted by media expectations for the 2026-27 basketball season, and the top of the list looked very familiar, with Arizona sitting at No. 1 after last seasons Final Four run and Houston and Kansas again drawing heavy respect.
For BYU, the takeaway is less about a single number than the company it keeps in a conference that continues to load up on proven contenders. The poll came with the usual preseason breakdown of key players and team outlooks, but it also reinforced the larger reality for the Cougars: any path toward making noise in the Big 12 will have to run through a deep, battle-tested upper tier. [Read more 🡒]