BYU Basketball Moves up in Latest AP Top 25 After 2-0 Start

BYU basketball is off to a strong start in the 2026-27 season. As a result, the Cougars are already climbing the national rankings.

After going 2-0 to open non-conference play, which included wins over Ohio State and Omaha, Kevin Young's team moved up two spots to No. 23 in the latest AP Top 25 Men's Basketball Poll.

The Cougars had an impressive victory over the Buckeyes at the Delta Center before returning home to race past Omaha in their home opener. The two wins are an early boost and put the program on the right track in Young's third season.

BYU was one of five Big 12 teams in this week's poll. Houston led the conference at No. 8, followed by Arizona at No. 12, Kansas at No. 15, Texas Tech at No. 16 and the Cougars at No. 23. Arizona took the biggest drop among Big 12 teams, falling seven spots after an opening-week loss to UCLA in Las Vegas. Florida took the No. 1 spot, followed by Duke, Illinois, UConn and Michigan State to round out the top five.

BYU's early success has been predictable. Young and his staff worked to create a balance on both sides of the floor. The backcourt is one of the best in the country. Not to mention, all five starters are averaging double figures through the opening two games, led by junior point guard Robert Wright llI, who is averaging 27 points per game.

We entered the season knowing Wright was going to be special. He was a preseason All-American pick and has quickly established himself as one of the best floor general guards.

Collin Chandler, a transfer from Kentucky, has added another scoring threat. That was also expected after most of the offseason reports detailed how he was ready to contribute. Bruce Branch Ill has been a plug-and-play replacement for AJ Dybantsa and is already generating NBA Draft buzz. Some projections place him among the top three picks in the upcoming 2027 NBA Draft.

The trio gives BYU one of the most explosive offensive outputs in the Big 12. It also provides optimism as the season progresses. The Cougars will look to keep their undefeated record intact with two home games this week.

BYU first welcomes Queens, who made the NCAA tournament last year out of the Atlantic Sun Conference. The program from Charlotte, NC has emerged as an early-season offensive threat. The Cougars will also host Montana State as it looks to continue building momentum.