The BYU men's basketball team begins its 2026-27 season with an exhibition game against Nebraska on Friday night at the Marriott Center. The matchup serves as the first look at a roster shaped by significant roster turnover, the transfer portal, and new NCAA eligibility rules.
Roster Changes and Eligibility
The Cougars enter the season with several roster questions, particularly regarding post depth and player eligibility. A significant addition to the roster is Jaxon Kohler, a 6-foot-10 post player who completed four years at Michigan State last spring. Kohler is one of many athletes seeking a fifth year of eligibility following new NCAA regulations implemented in June.
Coaching Strategy and Depth
BYU head coach Kevin Young discussed the team's pursuit of specific positional needs during a June interview. Young noted that the program has been looking for a player who can play away from the basket to complement Robert Wright III, seeking both shooting ability and functionality.
If Kohler is available for the season, the Cougars may have a stronger interior presence. Without him, the team relies on a young and inexperienced post rotation. To offset this, the program has recruited several high-percentage three-point shooters, including Collin Chandler from Kentucky and Tyler Betsey from Syracuse.
Returning Leadership
The Cougars' roster features only five players returning from the previous season: junior guard Robert Wright III, senior guard Nate Pickens, junior forward Khadim Mboup, junior forward Brody Kozlowski, and fifth-year guard Dawson Baker.
Wright, who averaged 18.1 points per game last season, faces significant pressure as a leader. Coach Young expressed confidence in the team's leadership, noting the benefit of having battle-tested players like Wright to guide younger teammates.
Nebraska's Recent Success and Transition
Nebraska arrives in Provo coming off a highly successful 2025-26 season, during which the Huskers advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. The team finished with a 28-7 overall record and a 15-5 mark in Big Ten play.
However, the Huskers are undergoing significant transition. Key players such as post Rienk Mast and point guard Sam Hoiberg have moved on. Mast, a 6-foot-10 player who recorded seven three-pointers against the Cougars in a previous exhibition, recently signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Indiana Pacers. The Huskers also lost starting guard Jamarques Lawrence and big man Berke Buyuktuncel.
Huskers Scouting Report
Despite losing key players, Nebraska returns leading scorer Pryce Sandfort, a 6-foot-7 senior who averaged 18.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season. Sandfort also made 129 three-pointers during the previous campaign. The Huskers also return 6-foot-7 junior Braden Frager, who averaged 11.8 points per game.
Nebraska has bolstered its roster through the transfer portal, adding significant size to the frontcourt. Notable additions include former Utah Valley point guard Trevan Leonhardt, South Dakota State transfer Damon Wilkinson, Belmont transfer Sam Orme, and Boston College transfer Boden Kapke.
Preseason Outlook
The upcoming exhibition follows a recent appearance by Nebraska in an exhibition game against St. Louis in Lincoln, where the Huskers lost 79-74. In that contest, freshman Jacob Lanier led Nebraska with 15 points, while fifth-year guard Cale Jacobsen contributed 10 points.
Nebraska's performance in that game showed struggles from distance, as the team shot 27% from the three-point line and 64% on free throws. BYU enters the matchup ranked No. 33 in preseason KenPom ratings and was picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 by CBS Sports. Nebraska holds a higher preseason KenPom ranking of No. 16 and was picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten by The Athletic.
Game Logistics
The exhibition game at the Marriott Center is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard on BYU Radio. Following this matchup, the Cougars are scheduled to travel to Las Vegas for an exhibition game against UNLV on Oct. 24.
