Dawson Baker eyes return as BYU prepares to host Montana State
Nov 11, 2026, 7:58 PM
PROVO — BYU basketball guard Dawson Baker is expected to make his return to the floor on Thursday night against Montana State.
That, according to Baker on his podcast, which was released Wednesday.
Last Thanksgiving, Baker suffered a devastating injury against Miami that included a torn ACL, torn lateral meniscus, mild PLC involvement, grade 2 MCL and LCL sprints, bone bruising, muscle/tendon strains and small impact fractures.
It was a brutal injury for a player who has navigated a long list of injuries in his career. But Baker never wavered on his goal to return to the floor to play for BYU again.
He received a medical redshirt from the NCAA before they moved to a five-year eligibility model that went into effect, giving him one more season in Provo for the 2026-27 campaign.
Dawson Baker said on his podcast that he plans to return against Montana State
On an episode of his podcast, “Life Beyond the 3,” co-hosted with former BYU player and teammate Trevin Knell, that dropped on Wednesday, November 11, Baker said he expects to return from that devastating injury for Thursday night’s game against Montana State.
“The time is now for the return of Dawson Baker. November what?” Trevin Knell asked.
“I don’t even know. It’s Montana State, Thursday,” Baker said on ‘Life Beyond the 3’ podcast.
Baker was asked how he’s mentally preparing for his return after an injury.
“Honestly, I haven’t been thinking too much about the game ahead. I just think about the practices. The practices have been so fun. I’ve been playing good in practice, and the chance to play basketball again has been super fun,” said Baker on his podcast.
“But yeah, that game will come, and yeah, It’ll be limited minutes, likely eight minutes. It’ll be like four-minute stints of just, like, four minutes; take him out. Four minutes, hopefully in the first half, and then we’ll just sit you.”
Dawson Baker, a.k.a. “Dawson Shotmaker”
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard out of Coto De Caza, California, is another sharpshooter BYU will have in their rotation for a team that is averaging 100 points per game through the first three games of the season.
Last season, in six game appearances, before the knee injury, Baker was knocking down 47.4% from 3-point range.
He was a key bench contributor two years ago for BYU’s team that reached the Sweet 16, appearing in 36 games and shooting 38% from beyond the arc.
“We’re going to see him before Maui (Invitational). Hopefully we’re able to get him in the next game (against Montana State),” said BYU coach Kevin Young following the win over Queens earlier this week.
“He’s going to be a little limited minute-wise and so forth. But you know, it’s a challenge to work guys into an existing rotation. So we’ll have to take a look at different things,” Young said.
“Obviously, Dawson’s a heck of a player, so we are really excited when his time comes to fully be back. … You look at what Dawson can do from a scoring perspective, you feel like he’s going to be able to give you a nice scoring punch off the bench, which we’re looking forward to.”
No. 23 BYU vs. Montana State
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Tip-off: 7 p.m. (MST)
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM)
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL 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.
