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BYU Stuns No. 6 Iowa State for Breakthrough Win
Freshman star AJ Dybantsa leads Cougars to first home victory over a top-10 opponent in 6 years.
Feb. 22, 2026 at 6:58am
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The BYU Cougars pulled off a stunning upset over the 6th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones, winning by a double-digit margin at home. Freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa led the way for BYU with a dominant all-around performance, showcasing his skills as a scorer, defender, and playmaker. The victory marks BYU's first home win over a top-10 opponent since 2020 and puts the Cougars firmly in the conversation as a potential Final Four contender.
Why it matters
This win is a major breakthrough for the BYU program, which had struggled to get over the hump against top-ranked opponents in recent years. The Cougars' ability to outplay and outmuscle the highly-touted Cyclones on their home floor demonstrates their potential to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. The performance of Dybantsa, who is emerging as a national player of the year candidate, also raises the ceiling for what this BYU team can accomplish.
The details
BYU's defense set the tone, holding Iowa State under 70 points and doubling them up on the offensive glass. Dybantsa was the catalyst, stuffing the stat sheet with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists while also locking down the Cyclones' top scorer. The Cougars' supporting cast struggled from the perimeter, but Dybantsa generated enough open looks to keep the offense flowing. This was a complete, gritty effort from BYU that showcased their ability to win in a variety of ways.
- BYU's last home win over a top-10 opponent was in 2020 against Gonzaga.
- The selection committee released its preliminary top 16 seeds on Saturday, with Iowa State on the one-seed line.
- Just 8 hours later, BYU knocked off the Cyclones at home.
The players
AJ Dybantsa
A freshman sensation who leads the nation in scoring and put on a dominant all-around performance against Iowa State, showcasing his skills as a scorer, defender, and playmaker.
Milan Momcilovic
Iowa State's top scorer, who was held to just 5 points on 1-of-5 shooting by the defensive efforts of Dybantsa.
Kennard Davis
A BYU player who delivered 17 points on 3 made 3-pointers, providing a much-needed secondary scoring option alongside Dybantsa.
What they’re saying
“AJ DYBANTSA ABSOLUTE MASTERCLASS 🔥The freshman played all 40 minutes en route to a win over No. 6 Iowa State 😳”
— SportsCenter
What’s next
With the win, BYU has a real shot of climbing back to a 4-seed with an outside shot at a 3-seed if they can win out the regular season and notch a win or two in the Big 12 tournament.
The takeaway
This breakthrough victory over a top-10 opponent demonstrates that BYU has the talent and toughness to be a legitimate Final Four contender, especially with the emergence of star freshman AJ Dybantsa. If the Cougars can continue to get complementary production around Dybantsa, they have the potential to make a deep NCAA Tournament run.
