BYU basketball named a Top 5 contender to earn its first national title this season

What Kevin Young and his staff are building in Provo has drawn national attention, with CBS Sports ranking the Cougars among the top programs poised to win their first-ever NCAA championship.

Excitement for BYU basketball isn’t limited to its fans. CBS Sports analyst Cameron Salerno recently named BYU one of five teams he believes could claim their first national title in the 2025-26 season.

Salerno ranked his selections, placing Purdue first, followed by Houston, BYU, Alabama, and Auburn.

That’s correct, Cougar faithful—Salerno puts Kevin Young’s squad third among teams seeking a historic first national championship win.

He highlights BYU’s Sweet 16 finish last season, led by standout freshman Egor Demin. While Demin has moved on and is expected to be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft, his role will be filled by rising freshman star AJ Dybantsa. Salerno emphasizes that Dybantsa is widely viewed as the top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft and could, “Change the trajectory of BYU’s program for years to come with a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.”

Seeing BYU as a serious national title threat stirs both excitement and nerves among fans. The Cougars have traditionally played the underdog, relying on chemistry, sharpshooting, and seasoned players to bridge the talent gap with powerhouse teams.

But that narrative is shifting.

Coach Kevin Young has assembled the country’s No. 3 recruiting class, headlined by AJ Dybantsa. He held on to All-Big 12 First Team selection Richie Saunders, secured five-star transfer guard Rob Wright from Baylor, and added Kennard Davis, a four-star recruit rated 95 by 247 Sports.

For the first time, BYU heads into the season as a frontrunner instead of a longshot.

Fans are now hoping that this new era leads to another first—raising a national title banner in Provo.