No. 25 BYU is scheduled to begin its 2026-27 men's basketball season on Monday, Nov. 2, against Ohio State. The game will take place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. MT.
The matchup marks the eighth all-time meeting between the two programs. The last meeting occurred on Dec. 30, 1997, at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, where the Cougars secured a 72-65 victory. Ohio State holds a 4-3 all-time series lead, with three of those wins occurring in Columbus. BYU has recorded two of its three all-time victories against the Buckeyes at neutral sites.
Head coach Kevin Young enters his third year with the program. During his first two seasons in Provo, Young went 49-22, which is the second-most wins by a head coach through their first two seasons in program history. He previously led the Cougars to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 2024-25 season that resulted in a Sweet 16 appearance. A victory on Monday, Nov. 2, would bring Young to 50 wins in 72 games, tying him with G. Ott Romney for the sixth-fastest coach to reach that milestone in program history.
The roster includes several players with previous experience against the Buckeyes. Jaxon Kohler, a fifth-year transfer, went 4-2 against Ohio State while at Michigan State. During his time there, the 6-foot-10 forward averaged 4.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Collin Chandler, a 6-foot-6 guard, previously appeared in a loss against the Buckeyes during his freshman season at Kentucky. Additionally, Jake Wahlin, a 6-foot-10 forward, joins the roster after playing at Utah and Clemson.
According to EvanMiya.com, BYU enters the season with five elite shooters: Collin Chandler, Dawson Baker, Jaxon Kohler, Robert Wright III, and Tyler Betsey. These players are projected to be in the 90th percentile or better in projected 3-point field goal percentage, excluding freshmen. BYU is one of only five schools in the nation with four or more such players on their roster.
Monday's season opener can be seen on FS1 with Aaron Goldsmith and Jim Jackson on the broadcast.
