Jayhawks Gaining Steam in Big 12 Title Race, Eyes Set on BYU Showdown
After a dominant 86-62 win over in-state rival Kansas State, Kansas has every reason to believe it’s firmly in the Big 12 title conversation. The Jayhawks are 5-2 in conference play and trending in the right direction, with their eyes set on a crucial stretch that could define their season.
“We’re just working, continuing to work toward a common goal of trying to push and fight to win the regular season Big 12 championship,” said sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson, who poured in a career-high 19 points in the win at Bramlage Coliseum. “It just feels like all the work, the teamwork is paying off.”
And it’s showing on the court. Kansas looked sharp, connected, and locked in against the Wildcats.
With that win, KU sits tied for fifth in the Big 12 standings alongside Iowa State. The top of the conference is crowded, with Arizona leading the pack at 7-0 ahead of a Big Monday clash against 6-1 Texas Tech.
BYU and Houston are right there at 5-1, followed by KU and Iowa State at 5-2. It’s a logjam-and the next week could shake things up in a big way.
That brings us to Saturday’s marquee matchup: Kansas vs. BYU at Allen Fieldhouse.
Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. local time, but the buzz will start much earlier. ESPN’s “College GameDay” is rolling into Lawrence, bringing Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Seth Greenberg, Jay Williams, and Andraya Carter to host the show live from the Phog at 10 a.m.
Freshman forward Bryson Tiller didn’t downplay the stakes: “Big game, biggest game so far probably. We’ve got to lock into the scout, be aggressive, have a tight huddle, hold on. It’ll be really good.”
And he’s right-this one’s got layers. Not only is it a battle between two top-tier Big 12 teams, but it’s also a showcase of two of the most electrifying freshmen in the country: Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. Both are on the radar for the 2026 NBA Draft, and Saturday could serve as a statement game for either one.
Dybantsa has been sensational for BYU. The 6-foot-9 forward from Brockton, Massachusetts, has played in all 19 games and is averaging 23.6 points on 55.4% shooting, along with 6.8 rebounds per game. He’s added 67 assists, 25 steals, and nine blocks-an all-around force who’s helped lead the Cougars to a 17-2 record.
Peterson, meanwhile, has been just as impressive in his time on the floor for KU. The 6-foot-6 freshman from Canton, Ohio, has played in 10 games this season, averaging 21.6 points on 49.3% shooting, with 4.6 rebounds, 19 assists, 10 steals, and seven blocks. He’s logging over 27 minutes per game and brings an undeniable presence on both ends.
However, Peterson missed the Kansas State game after spraining his ankle earlier in the week at Colorado. Head coach Bill Self sounded cautiously optimistic about his availability for Saturday.
“I think he’ll play. I don’t know for a fact.
I’m not a doctor, but I think he’ll play,” Self said. “That game will obviously mean a lot to a lot of people, and they’re terrific and ‘GameDay’ will make it extra hype.
So I don’t see any reason that he couldn’t play. If he played today, he would have been ineffective because he couldn’t have pushed off today.”
Even without Peterson, Kansas didn’t miss a beat against K-State. Senior Melvin Council Jr. took on the tough task of defending one of the Big 12’s top scorers, P.J.
Haggerty, and held his own. Haggerty, a 6-4 junior, finished with 23 points-18 of those coming in the second half-but he had to work for every bucket, shooting just 6-of-17 from the field.
Council didn’t just defend; he filled the stat sheet with 17 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds. It was a complete performance on both ends, and Self was quick to recognize the challenge Haggerty presents.
“I don’t know that I expected it, but I expected him to shoot 12 free throws,” Self said. “The thing about him, I actually told our team, I said, ‘He’s going to get 20 shots and he’s going to shoot 10 free throws.
And if he shoots it well, he’s going to have 30. We’ve just got to limit his good looks.’
And I think for the most part we did. He’s a natural scorer, though.
We don’t have many of those that we play against that’s just a natural scorer.”
With the win in Manhattan now in the rearview, KU’s focus shifts to preparation. Self laid out the week’s plan: practice Monday and Tuesday, rest Wednesday, then back at it Thursday and Friday ahead of BYU. That sets the stage for a quick turnaround, with another huge game on the horizon-Big Monday in Lubbock against Texas Tech.
The next seven days are about more than just wins and losses. They’re about momentum, identity, and making a statement in one of college basketball’s most competitive conferences.
The Jayhawks are right in the thick of it. And with ESPN’s spotlight shining bright on Lawrence this weekend, they’ve got a chance to show the country just how serious they are.