CBS Sports Ranks BYU Basketball Among Top 5 National Title Contenders 2026

BYU basketball is emerging as a serious contender for its first-ever national championship in the 2025-26 season, fueled by top-tier recruiting and key transfers. The Cougars, led by head coach Kevin Young, have secured the nation’s No. 1 recruit, AJ Dybantsa, along with significant additions like Baylor transfer Robert Wright III and sharpshooter Richie Saunders, creating a roster with both depth and versatility. CBS Sports ranked BYU among five teams most likely to win their first national title in 2026, highlighting the program’s unprecedented potential despite never having reached a Final Four. Expectations are high, with analysts like Jon Rothstein suggesting that BYU should aim for at least a Final Four appearance. The Big 12 conference is increasingly competitive, with BYU, Houston, and Texas Tech all boasting strong rosters and recruiting classes, making the conference a hotbed for future college basketball success. While some projections for BYU football indicate a middle-of-the-pack finish in the Big 12, the basketball program’s momentum is drawing national attention as it seeks to break new ground.