Ohio State lost its 2026-27 season opener to No. 25 BYU with a score of 94-83 in a neutral-site matchup held in Salt Lake City on November 2, 2026. Robert Wright III led the Cougars with 33 points to secure the victory at the Delta Center.
The Buckeyes held a 37-34 lead at halftime, having previously led by as many as 10 points following an early 20-10 advantage. However, BYU responded with a 16-6 run early in the second half to take a 50-43 lead. Although Ohio State later tied the game at 59-59, the Cougars went on a 7-0 run to grab a 66-59 lead with 9:30 remaining. BYU maintained a lead between seven and 10 points for the remainder of the contest.
Robert Wright III contributed 33 points for the Cougars, shooting 4-for-5 on three-pointers and 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. He was supported by Collin Chandler, Tyler Betsy, Bruce Branch III, and Jaxon Kohler, who each recorded 15, 15, 12, and 11 points, respectively.
Amare Bynum led Ohio State with 20 points, returning to the game after a brief trip to the locker room for a suspected rolled right ankle. John Mobley Jr. added 14 points before fouling out with 4:49 remaining, while Andrija Jelavic recorded 13 points and nine rebounds. Five-star freshman Anthony Thompson finished with two points on two free-throw attempts.
Statistically, the teams were closely matched in several categories. BYU shot 54% from the field and 70% from beyond the arc in the second half, while Ohio State shot 49% from the field and 32.1% from the three-point line. Ohio State won the rebounding battle 31-30 and recorded more steals (6-3) and blocks (3-0), but also committed 12 turnovers compared to BYU's eight.
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler expressed disappointment in the result via Zoom, noting the team's failure to execute and communicate effectively after a strong first half. He attributed the loss to mental errors and an inability to get defensive stops during critical moments. Despite the loss, Diebler noted that the team showed fight and scored enough points on the road to remain competitive.
