BYU and Arizona will face off on ESPN’s Big Monday for a second straight season, according to a September 14 statement from ESPN and the Big 12 Conference. The Cougars are scheduled to host the Wildcats on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. MT at the Marriott Center.
The matchup against Arizona is one of five Big Monday games scheduled for the Big 12 during the 2026-27 season. This season represents the 31st season the Big 12 has been showcased on the network as part of a long-standing arrangement with ESPN. Other scheduled Big Monday matchups include Kansas at Houston on Feb. 1, TCU at Arizona on Feb. 8, Houston at Texas Tech on Feb. 15, and Iowa State at Kansas on March 1.
BYU enters the matchup following a 23-win season under head coach Kevin Young, which included the program's 33rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars' 2025-26 campaign featured a 13-game winning streak, which was the fourth-longest in program history. That streak included a 28-point victory over No. 23 Wisconsin and a title at the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational via wins over Miami and Dayton.
The Cougars will rely on returning players such as All-Big 12 guard Robert Wright III, who averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game last season. Other returning players include Khadim Mboup, Dawson Baker, Nate Pickens, and Brody Kozlowski. The roster also features Utah natives Collin Chandler and Jake Wahlin, along with Tyler Betsey, who has appeared in 65 games across stops at Cincinnati and Syracuse. New additions to the roster include freshmen Bruce Branch III, Dean Rueckert, Brooks Bahr, and Dovydas Buika.
Last season, the two teams met in a narrow 86-83 setback for BYU. In that game, AJ Dybantsa scored a team-high 24 points for the Cougars as they attempted to overcome a 19-point deficit. Despite a rally featuring three-pointers from Robert Wright III, Richie Saunders, and Kennard Davis Jr., a blocked shot by Brayden Burries prevented the Cougars from tying the game with under 16 seconds remaining.
The BYU roster includes several freshmen, including Bruce Branch III, who is noted as the sixth-ranked recruit in the SCNext 100. Other freshmen include Provo native Dean Rueckert, Brooks Bahr, and Dovydas Buika.
