No. 4 Arizona hosts No. 23 BYU in Big 12 showdown

The Wildcats look to bounce back from back-to-back losses as the Cougars aim to extend their winning streak

Feb. 21, 2026 at 9:39am

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The highlight matchup on Wednesday's college basketball schedule is a ranked contest in the Big 12 between the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats and the No. 23 BYU Cougars. Arizona (23-2, 10-2 Big 12) dropped from the top spot in the AP Poll following back-to-back losses last week, including an overtime defeat to Texas Tech. BYU (19-6, 7-5 Big 12) has won two in a row and is led by star freshman AJ Dybantsa.

Why it matters

This game features two highly ranked teams looking to make a statement in the Big 12 conference. Arizona is trying to bounce back from its recent struggles, while BYU is aiming to continue its winning ways and potentially pull off an upset on the road against a top-5 opponent.

The details

The Wildcats prevailed 86-83 when these teams met on Jan. 26. Arizona is an 11.5-point favorite in the latest odds, with the over/under set at 165.5 points. The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times and is going Under on the total, as Arizona has trended under in recent games and BYU lost a key player to injury.

  • The game tips off at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
  • Arizona and BYU previously met on January 26, 2026, with the Wildcats winning 86-83.

The players

Arizona Wildcats

The No. 4 ranked team in the country, with a 23-2 overall record and 10-2 mark in Big 12 play.

BYU Cougars

The No. 23 ranked team in the country, with a 19-6 overall record and 7-5 record in Big 12 play. Led by star freshman AJ Dybantsa.

AJ Dybantsa

BYU's star freshman who has led the Cougars' recent winning streak.

Richie Saunders

BYU's All-Big 12 guard who suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury on Saturday.

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What they’re saying

“We must bounce back strong after those tough losses last week. This is a big game for us to regain our footing in the Big 12 race.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Arizona Head Coach (ESPN)

“Losing Richie is a huge blow, but our team is ready to step up and compete against one of the best teams in the country.”

— Mark Pope, BYU Head Coach (Deseret News)

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a high seed in the upcoming Big 12 Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between two highly ranked Big 12 teams will be a crucial test for both squads as they jockey for position in the conference standings and look to build momentum heading into the postseason.