BYU’s search for help in the frontcourt may have just gotten a lot more interesting.
A Colorado judge’s ruling last Friday could reopen the college careers of a wave of fifth-year players, and that shift may wind up helping the Cougars more than most. The NCAA had already approved a new “five in five” eligibility model - five years to play five seasons - but it was not supposed to kick in until 2027.
U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Denver sped that timeline up, ordering the NCAA to start honoring those privileges now for athletes who began their college careers in the 2022-23 season and were classified as seniors in 2025-26.
The NCAA has said it plans an expedited appeal, but the ruling is expected to hold for now. That means thousands of extra players could re-enter the college market, even if the process gets messy. Transfer rules are still unclear, and plenty of schools have already spent their money and filled their rosters.
For BYU, though, the timing could be ideal. The Cougars still have two roster spots available, and center remains the obvious hole. Polish big man Jakub Urbaniak did reportedly commit in July, but the new pool of eligible veterans gives Kevin Young and his staff a chance to add even more size and experience inside.
And at the top of that list is Jaxon Kohler.
Kohler spent the last four seasons at Michigan State, where he played in 127 games and was part of an NCAA Tournament run that included eight wins and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2025. The 6-foot-10 big man earned All-Big Ten honorable mention last season after averaging 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting 50% from the floor and 39% from 3-point range.
He’s been productive in a lot of different ways. Kohler has 21 double-doubles in his college career, has knocked down multiple threes in 16 different games and put up 17 points and 11 rebounds in that Elite Eight appearance. He also recently played for the Utah Jazz in summer league before looking to return to college, after being named on a California injunction for extra eligibility in July.
According to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, his top options include Kansas, Kentucky and BYU, as well as a return to Michigan State.
The fit with BYU is easy to see. Kohler is a Utah County native and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also played at Wasatch Academy alongside BYU alums Richie Saunders and Fousseyni Traore.
Robby McCombs of Vanquish the Foe reported that Kohler met virtually with Young last week.
“I’m told the call went very well and BYU made a big impression on Jaxon,” wrote McCombs.
“... Multiple people have told me there is a real draw for Jaxon to come home for his final season and play close to family and friends. BYU gives him runway to a big role and a chance to feature different parts of his game with the spacing BYU can provide.”
If BYU can pull that off this late in the offseason, it would be a major win. The Cougars have not had a big man with Kohler’s profile since Yoeli Childs, and Kohler brings something valuable to Kevin Young’s roster: low-post scoring paired with real stretch ability from outside. That kind of combination would give BYU a different look and add more perimeter danger to a team that already has Rob Wright III, Collin Chandler and Bruce Branch III.
Even if Kohler lands elsewhere, the ruling has widened the Cougars’ center options. Big 12 rivals are shopping in the same new market, too, and Arizona has already reportedly signed RJ Godfrey from Clemson to fill a need of its own. But if BYU wants to keep pace in the August scramble, landing Kohler would do the trick.
The obstacle, of course, is the competition. Kansas, Michigan State and Kentucky are all in the mix, and Young would be going head-to-head with Bill Self, Tom Izzo and former BYU coach Mark Pope.
If the Cougars win that battle, it would stand as one of Young’s biggest recruiting victories so far and push BYU’s ceiling into the range of a Big 12 contender with real March staying power.
In Other News...
Big 12 Coaches Are Suddenly Chasing BYU Instead Of Texas Tech
BYU has spent plenty of time this offseason being discussed in the same breath as the Big 12s usual heavyweights, but a new anonymous coaches survey from Athlon Sports pushed the Cougars into an even brighter spotlight. Several league coaches praised BYUs physical style, the quality of the coaching and the financial backing behind the program, a combination that has clearly earned respect inside the conference walls.
The bigger takeaway is how quickly the conversation has shifted away from the team that had been drawing so much offseason attention, Texas Tech. Some coaches in the survey went as far as to suggest BYU could be the team to beat in the Big 12 in 2026, which is a sign of how much confidence the Cougars have built, even if it still says nothing about how the race will actually play out once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Enters A New Era With One Big Defensive Challenge
Kelly Poppinga is stepping into the defensive coordinator role at BYU at a moment when the program is trying to keep its edge after Jay Hills departure to Michigan. The hire gives the Cougars a familiar voice charged with preserving the high-energy culture that helped define the defense, while also blending in returning players and newcomers as the staff resets around a new play caller.
Poppinga has made it clear that pressure will be part of the identity, with sacks an obvious measuring stick for how fast the unit adapts. Even so, he has also pointed out that finishing plays depends on more than just effort, with matchups and coaching adjustments shaping what the defense can actually produce when the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fall Camp Opens With Pressure On Bear Bachmeier And His Targets
BYUs 2026 fall camp is getting underway with the usual first-step routine, as players report for meetings and equipment fitting before practices begin Wednesday. Even with media access limited, there will still be enough of a window to take in meaningful portions of practice, and the first few days should offer an early read on the pieces that matter most as the Cougars start sorting out their depth chart.
The biggest eyes will naturally be on Bear Bachmeier, whose development sits near the center of everything BYU wants to accomplish on offense. Up front and across the defensive line, experienced players could help set a more physical tone, while the receiver room brings its own layer of intrigue as the Cougars look to replace departing starters and establish who can separate from the pack once camp really starts to settle in. [Read more 🡒]