BYU is just three days away from returning to the Marriott Center hardwood.
The Cougars will host Nebraska in an exhibition on Friday, offering the world its first glimpse of Kevin Young’s new-look roster of 3-point sharpshooters.
BYU’s road back to the NCAA Tournament will feature a number of memorable matchups along the way, including a Thanksgiving trip to Hawaii for the three-game Maui Invitational, two showdowns with defending Big 12 champion Arizona, and of course, a pair of rivalry clashes with Utah’s Runnin’ Utes.
Here are five other compelling contests from the Cougars’ 2026-27 schedule to mark on your calendar.
BYU Cougars forward Khadim Mboup (7) goes hard to the hoop for a dunk as BYU and the California Baptist Lancers play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
BYU will have a legitimate test for its regular-season opener.
Awaiting the Cougars at the Delta Center will be Ohio State, a veteran-heavy Big Ten squad coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance last year.
It will include a battle of five-star freshman forwards, with BYU’s Bruce Branch III and prized Buckeye Anthony Thompson facing off in their respective collegiate debuts.
With so many new pieces in the rotation, the Cougars likely won’t be their most polished right out the gate — but an encouraging victory over Ohio State would be a great way to build some early momentum and confidence for the season ahead.
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kevin Young talks with Dallin Hall (30) during Marriott Madness at the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
In-state bragging rights will be on the line as Utah State visits Provo for the first time since 2021, marking BYU’s most intriguing nonconference opportunity by far.
The Aggies have gone 109-31 over the past four seasons, becoming the darling of the Mountain West and an NCAA Tournament staple despite having three different head coaches in that span.
Now led by Ben Jacobson and competing in the Pac-12, Utah State will surely be fired up for the chance to upset a Big 12 foe and claim Beehive State basketball superiority.
And don’t forget about new Aggies point guard Dallin Hall, who played 100 games for BYU from 2022-25 and will be making his Marriott Center return. It should be an emotional outing for everyone involved.
BYU guard Dawson Baker (25) passes the ball during a game between BYU and the Kansas Jayhawks at the Marriott Center on the campus of BYU in Provo on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News
It’s always a thrill when a blue blood comes to town.
Kansas will make its second-ever trip to the Marriott Center three games into Big 12 play, and with an 11 a.m. tipoff on ESPN, there will be no shortage of eyeballs on the matchup.
BYU routed the Jayhawks in Provo by a historic 91-57 margin back in 2025, only for Kansas to get revenge a year later at Allen Fieldhouse as Darryn Peterson bested AJ Dybantsa. Every meeting between these two teams tends to be electric.
Led by consensus No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes, Kansas is expected to return to its typical conference championship-contending form in what could be legendary head coach Bill Self’s final season with the program. Perhaps the Cougars and Jayhawks will meet again in the Big 12 tournament.
Houston’s Joseph Tugler, right, heads to the basket past a BYU defender during game in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. | Charlie Riedel
Since joining the Big 12 in 2023, there’s only one conference opponent BYU has yet to beat: Kelvin Sampson’s red Cougars.
Houston is 97-17 over the past three seasons, having reached seven consecutive Sweet 16s along with the national championship game in 2025.
BYU played Houston tough in two games last season, leading midway through the second half before falling by 11 and seven points apiece.
Sampson’s squad will almost certainly be a preseason top-25 team, but the red Cougars aren’t currently expected to enter the national title conversation. BYU’s projected high-powered perimeter attack could challenge Houston’s famed defense to finally earn that long-awaited win.
BYU Cougars guard Robert Wright III (1) screams after being fouled with seconds left in the game with the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the Marriott Center in Provo, on Saturday, March 7, 2026. BYU won 82-76. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
They may only be facing off once this year, but any BYU-Texas Tech showdown always feels a bit bigger.
March 5 will be no exception, with the Cougars and Red Raiders playing a Friday night FS1 showcase for the regular-season finale. It’s highly possible that final seeding for the following week’s Big 12 tournament will be on the line in Lubbock.
Additionally, Texas Tech star JT Toppin, currently recovering from a torn ACL, should be back to full strength by then. In his last appearance against BYU, he scored 27 points with 13 rebounds.
BYU did upset the Red Raiders to close out the 2026 regular season — maybe history will repeat itself. The Cougars have yet to head to Kansas City for the conference tournament immediately after a loss.
BYU players sway back and forth together at Marriott Madness on Oct. 6, 2026 in Provo. | BYU Photo
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