BYU Basketball Makes Top Ten Debut In Preseason AP Top 25

SALT LAKE CITY – High expectations for the BYU men’s basketball program are being amplified after the Cougars debuted at No. 8 in the initial AP Top 25 poll.

The Preseason AP Top 25 was released on Monday, October 13.

Six Big 12 teams made the list, led by the Houston Cougars at No. 2.

BYU basketball checks in at No. 8 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. pic.twitter.com/Mn4MIz1F4x

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 13, 2025

The Cougars had a banner season in Kevin Young’s first year leading the program. The program finished 26-10, including a 14-6 record in a loaded Big 12 Conference.

BYU advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 before being eliminated by the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Preseason AP Top 25

1. Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten)
2. Houston Cougars (Big 12)
3. Florida Gators (SEC)
4. UConn Huskies (Big East)
5. St. John’s Red Storm (Big East)
6. Duke Blue Devils (ACC)
7. Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten)
8. BYU Cougars (Big 12)
9. Kentucky Wildcats (SEC)
10. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Big 12)
11. Louisville Cardinals (ACC)
12. UCLA Bruins (Big Ten)
13. Arizona Wildcats (Big 12)
14. Arkansas Razorbacks (SEC)
15. Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC)
16. Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12)
17. Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten)
18. Tennessee Volunteers (SEC)
19. Kansas Jayhawks (Big 12)
20. Auburn Tigers (SEC)
21. Gonzaga Bulldogs (WCC)
22. Michigan State (Big Ten)
23. Creighton Blue Jays (Big East)
24. Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten)
25. North Carolina Tar Heels (ACC)

Others receiving votes:

NC State 101, Oregon 98, San Diego St. 74, Texas 35, Ohio St. 23, Kansas St 13, Mississippi 11, Southern Cal 10, Missouri 8, Washington 7, Vanderbilt 7, Iowa 6, Boise St. 4, Mississippi St. 3, VCU 2, Virginia 2, Saint Mary’s 2, Indiana 1, Oklahoma 1, Baylor 1.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.

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