BYU Jumps Up In AP Top 25 After Breakthrough Win

PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball is on the move again in the AP Top 25 poll.

After defeating nationally-ranked Iowa State over the weekend, BYU jumped four spots from No. 23 in last week’s ranking to No. 19.

BYU climbs four spots to No. 19 in the AP Top 25 poll.

BYU's next opponent, UCF, is receiving votes. pic.twitter.com/GOtiE2zSrb

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) February 23, 2026

The win kept BYU in the rankings, a place they have occupied during each poll this season.

BYU’s 79-69 win over Iowa State was their first win over an AP Top-10 opponent at the Marriott Center since 2020 against Gonzaga.

It was the second time in the Kevin Young era that BYU earned a victory over a top-10 opponent. The other was also against Iowa State. That win came last season at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, in double overtime.

Despite the loss to BYU, Iowa State moved up in the poll from No. 6 to No. 4 after defeating Houston earlier last week. The Coogs were previously No. 2 in the AP Top 25.

Houston dropped to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 after a winless week that included a setback against Arizona, which jumped to No. 2.

Duke took over the No. 1 ranking for the first time this season after they defeated the previous No. 1 Michigan over the weekend in Washington, D.C.

BYU is now 20-7 overall and 8-6 in Big 12 play. The Cougars are 2-6 this season against AP Top 25 opponents.

Next up for BYU is a home game against the UCF Knights on Tuesday night. UCF is receiving votes in this week’s AP Top 25.

After the penultimate home game of the season, BYU will then go on the road to face West Virginia in Morgantown this Saturday.

AP Top 25: Week 16

Week of February 23, 2026

1. Duke

2. Arizona

3. Michigan

4. Iowa State

5. Houston

6. UConn

7. Florida

8. Purdue

9. Gonzaga

10. Illinois

11. Virginia

12. Nebraska

13. Michigan State

14. Kansas

15. St. John’s

16. Texas Tech

17. Alabama

18. North Carolina

19. BYU

20. Arkansas

21. Miami (OH)

22. Tennessee

23. Saint Louis

24. Louisville

25. Vanderbilt

Others receiving votes: Wisconsin, Saint Mary’s, Villanova, Miami, Utah State, NC State, SMU, Texas A&M, Iowa, UCF, High Point, Stephen F. Austin, Navy.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

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