BYU has locked in a nonconference slate for the 2026-27 season that leans heavily on home-state dates, neutral-site showdowns and a pair of exhibitions to get ready for another year under Kevin Young.
The Cougars’ schedule includes 14 nonconference games, which is now the NCAA men’s basketball limit beginning with the 2026-27 season. BYU filled the full allotment and added two exhibition games on top of it.
Ten of those 14 out-of-league games will be played in Utah, while the four games outside the state are all on neutral floors. There are no true road games on the list.
BYU opens the regular season on Monday, November 2, against Ohio State at the Delta Center. The Buckeyes are considered a possible preseason Top 25 team, and the matchup will be the first time the programs have met on the hardwood since 1997.
Another Big Ten opponent follows later in the month. BYU will play Northwestern at the Delta Center on Saturday, December 5, with former BYU guard Aleksej Kostic now part of the Wildcats’ roster.
The schedule also brings back a couple of familiar regional matchups. Utah State visits the Marriott Center on Wednesday, December 9, reviving that rivalry, and Weber State comes to Provo on Tuesday, December 15. BYU last played Weber State in 2022.
There is also an old West Coast connection on the slate. BYU will head to Palm Springs, California, to meet San Diego State at Acrisure Arena in the Acrisure Series.
Thanksgiving week sends the Cougars to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational, where they’ll be part of an eight-team field that includes Arizona, Clemson, Colorado State, Ole Miss, Providence, VCU and Washington.
The two exhibitions are set for Oct. 16 against Nebraska in Provo and Oct. 24 at UNLV in Las Vegas.
BYU is entering Year 3 under Kevin Young after reaching the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team in each of his first two seasons, earning a No. 6 seed both times.
BYU basketball schedule: 2026-27 nonconference
Oct. 16 - Nebraska (Exhibition) | Provo, Utah
Oct. 24 - at UNLV (Exhibition) | Las Vegas, Nevada
Nov. 2 - vs. Ohio State | Delta Center
Nov. 6 - Omaha
Nov. 10 - Queens
Nov. 12 - Montana State
Nov. 18 - Northern Colorado
Nov. 23-25 - Southwest Maui Invitational | Lahaina, Hawaii
Dec. 5 - vs. Northwestern | Delta Center
Dec. 9 - Utah State
Dec. 12 - Cal State Fullerton
Dec. 15 - Weber State
Dec. 19 - vs. San Diego State | Palm Springs, California
Dec. 22 - La Salle
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