BYU Star Richie Saunders Suffers Career-Ending Injury

Cougars standout dealt major blow with torn ACL, will miss remainder of season.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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BYU Cougars men's basketball star Richie Saunders announced on Instagram that he suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season, ending his college career. Saunders was a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season and the league's Most Improved Player, averaging 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 48.9% from the field.

Why it matters

Saunders was a key player for the Cougars, helping lead the team to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2011. His career-ending injury is a major blow to the team and its NCAA tournament aspirations this season.

The details

Saunders was helped off the floor on Saturday before walking under his own power to the locker room. BYU coach Kevin Young said the injury "sucked the life out of the gym" and that Saunders was the "heart and soul" of the team. Saunders finishes his college career with 1,544 points in 128 games, ranking eighth in school history in 3-pointers made (205). He had been projected as a potential second-round NBA draft pick.

  • Saunders suffered the torn ACL injury on Saturday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Richie Saunders

A standout player for the BYU Cougars men's basketball team who suffered a career-ending torn ACL injury.

Kevin Young

The head coach of the BYU Cougars men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“To end my BYU career like this is heartbreaking. I've loved every moment and every challenge that came with representing the school I love. These past four years have shaped who I am — on and off the court.”

— Richie Saunders (Instagram)

“I think it sucked the life out of the gym, if I'm being honest. You never want to see an injury to any player, but definitely not to someone who's the heart and soul of our team and bleeds BYU blue.”

— Kevin Young, Head Coach

The takeaway

Richie Saunders' career-ending injury is a devastating blow for the BYU Cougars men's basketball team, which had been counting on the standout player to lead them deep into the NCAA tournament this season. His absence will be felt both on and off the court, as he was described as the "heart and soul" of the team.