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Provo Today
By the People, for the People
BYU Loses Star Guard Richie Saunders for Season After Torn ACL
Saunders' injury is a major blow to the Cougars' NCAA Tournament hopes.
Published on Feb. 16, 2026
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BYU guard Richie Saunders, a senior averaging 18 points per game, announced on social media that he suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Saunders was a crucial piece for the No. 22 Cougars alongside highly touted freshman AJ Dybantsa, and his absence is a major blow as BYU has struggled in recent weeks, losing five of their last eight games.
Why it matters
Saunders was BYU's second-leading scorer and a key part of their offense, which has relied heavily on the scoring of Dybantsa. Without Saunders, the Cougars will have to find new ways to generate offense and support Dybantsa, which could impact their chances of making a deep NCAA Tournament run.
The details
Saunders suffered the injury in BYU's win over Colorado, leaving the game early after falling while driving to the basket. He was the 35th-ranked player in Sam Vecenie's Top 100 NBA Draft prospect rankings and was likely playing in his final collegiate season. The Cougars have already lost another veteran, Dawson Baker, six games into the season, further depleting their depth.
- Saunders suffered the torn ACL injury during BYU's win over Colorado on February 12, 2026.
- Saunders announced the injury on social media on February 15, 2026.
The players
Richie Saunders
A senior guard for BYU who averaged 18 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game before suffering a season-ending torn ACL injury.
AJ Dybantsa
A highly touted freshman guard for BYU who has been the Cougars' leading scorer this season.
Dawson Baker
A veteran player for BYU who was lost for the season six games into the year, further depleting the Cougars' depth.
What’s next
The Cougars have six games remaining in the regular season, including matchups against No. 1 Arizona, No. 5 Iowa State, and No. 16 Texas Tech. They will need to find a way to replace Saunders' production and depth if they hope to secure a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The takeaway
Richie Saunders' season-ending injury is a major setback for a BYU team that was once ranked in the top 10 but has struggled in recent weeks. Without their second-leading scorer and a key part of their offense, the Cougars will have to find new ways to support star freshman AJ Dybantsa and maintain their standing as an NCAA Tournament team.
