Not surprisingly, BYU is expected to finish near the top of the Big 12 in men’s basketball this season and Utah near the bottom.
That is reflected in the preseason Big 12 coaches poll that was released Thursday, where the Cougars were picked to finish second in the league. That included one first-place vote.
It’s the highest BYU has ever been projected in the preseason Big 12 poll in its third year in the league.
Utah, meanwhile, is projected to finish 13th. That is an improvement over last season, when the Runnin’ Utes were projected to finish last during their first season in the conference.
Houston was picked to finish in first place, with Texas Tech and Arizona right behind BYU at third and fourth place, respectively.
BYU is also represented on the preseason All-Big 12 team by true freshman AJ Dybantsa and Richie Saunders. Dybantsa, the highest-rated recruit in school history was beat out for Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year honors, which went to Kansas’ Darryn Peterson.
Both Dybantsa and Peterson, the top two rated players nationally in the 2025 recruiting class, were unanimous selections to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
Expectations are high in Provo after BYU went 26-10 overall and 14-6 in league play (tied for third in the Big 12) in Kevin Young’s first season as head coach.
That included a run to the Sweet Sixteen for the Cougars.
With Dybantsa and Baylor transfer guard Rob Wright III headlining a new group of players joining an experienced squad, including All-Big 12 performer Saunders, the hype surrounding BYU is skyrocketing heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
Utah is coming off a 16-17 season (8-12 in Big 12 play) where it replaced its head coach. Out is Craig Smith, and in is former Runnin’ Utes great Alex Jensen.
Utah’s roster is overhauled this year, with 12 new players and three holdovers from last season. It’s a group that is led by forward Keanu Dawes, as well as transfers Jahki Howard, Elijah “Choppa” Moore and Terrence Brown.
BYU opens its 2025-26 season in a neutral-site matchup against the Big East’s Villanova on Nov. 3 — one of several high-profile nonconference games for the Cougars — and will start Big 12 play Jan. 3 at Kansas State.
The Utes also tip off their season on Nov. 3, at home against San Jose State, and will begin league action Jan. 3 against Arizona in the Huntsman Center.
Preseason Big 12 coaches poll
- Houston (14 first-place votes) — 224 points
- BYU (1) — 204
- Texas Tech — 200
- Arizona (1) — 179
- Iowa State — 170
- Kansas — 163
- Baylor — 137
- Cincinnati — 120
- K-State — 117
- TCU — 90
- West Virginia — 79
- Oklahoma State — 77
- Utah — 50
- UCF — 39
- Colorado — 37
- Arizona State — 34
Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year
- LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech
Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year
- Darryn Peterson, Kansas
All-Big 12 Preseason Team
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
- Richie Saunders, BYU
- Emanuel Sharp, Houston
- Joseph Tugler, Houston
- Milos Uzan, Houston*
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Darryn Peterson, Kansas*
- P.J. Haggerty, Kansas State
- Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech*
*Indicates unanimous selection