Two ranked Big 12 teams collide Wednesday night as BYU heads to Tucson to face Arizona in a pivotal late-season showdown.
BYU enters at 19-6 overall after a 90-86 win over Colorado Buffaloes, its second straight victory. Arizona, now 23-2, is looking to respond after back-to-back losses; Monday at Kansas Jayhawks and Saturday at home against Texas Tech Red Raiders.
This marks the second meeting between the programs this season. Arizona won the first matchup 86-83 on January 26.
BYU leaning on its freshman star
The Cougars are powered by freshman standout AJ Dybantsa, who is averaging 24.4 points per game and has consistently carried the offensive load.
BYU will be without its third-leading scorer, Richie Saunders, who suffered a season-ending injury in the win over Colorado. Saunders was averaging 18 points per game, making his absence significant for a team that scores 86.5 points per contest.
Robert Wright III (18.7 ppg) provides additional scoring punch, while BYU’s ability to space the floor and play at pace has made it one of the more dangerous offensive teams in the conference.
After this matchup, BYU returns home to host Iowa State Cyclones and UCF Knights before closing the regular season with road trips to West Virginia Mountaineers and Cincinnati Bearcats. The finale comes March 7 at home against Texas Tech.
Arizona looking to bounce back
Arizona remains one of the most explosive teams in the country, averaging 88.2 points per game — a mark that ranks inside the top 15 nationally. The Wildcats also control the glass, pulling down nearly 41 rebounds per game.
Brayden Burries leads the team at 15.7 points per game, while Jaden Bradley adds 13.4. Freshman forward Koa Peat, who averages 13.8 points per game, is listed as questionable with a quadriceps injury.
The Wildcats face a brutal stretch to close February. After BYU, Arizona travels to Houston Cougars and Baylor Bears. They then host Kansas and Iowa State before finishing the regular season on the road at Colorado.
BYU vs. Arizona: Where and when
- Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
- Time: 6:00 p.m. PT
- Location: McKale Center; Tucson, AZ
BYU vs. Arizona: TV and streaming
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: FuboTV
BYU vs. Arizona: Betting odds
- Spread: Arizona Wildcats -13, BYU Cougars +13
- Moneyline: Arizona Wildcats -870, BYU Cougars +720
- Total: 161.5
BYU vs. Arizona: Series history
- All-time series: Arizona leads 22-20
- Last meeting: Arizona defeated BYU 86-83 on January 26, 2026
Projected starting lineups
BYU Cougars
- #3 AJ Dybantsa – 24.4 ppg
- #1 Robert Wright III – 18.7 ppg
- #30 Kennard Davis Jr. – 7.2 ppg
- #13 Keba Keita – 6.5 ppg
- #34 Abdullah Ahmed – 1.9 ppg
Key note: Richie Saunders (18.0 ppg) is out for the season.
Arizona Wildcats
- #5 Brayden Burries – 15.7 ppg
- #30 Tobe Awaka – 10.0 ppg
- #00 Jaden Bradley – 13.4 ppg
- #13 Motiejus Krivas – 11.1 ppg
- #8 Ivan Kharchenkov – 9.7 ppg
Key note: #10 Koa Peat (13.8 ppg) is questionable with a quadriceps injury.
Cougars and Wildcats collide in Big 12 spotlight
Arizona, once ranked No. 1 nationally, enters this game with urgency after consecutive losses. McKale Center will be energized, and the Wildcats understand the importance of defending home court in a tightly packed Big 12 race.
BYU, meanwhile, has revenge on its mind after the narrow loss in January. With elite scoring on both sides and NBA-level talent across the floor, this matchup has all the ingredients of one of the best games on the midweek slate.