Analysis: No. 23 BYU finally earns a signature win with convincing upset of No. 6 Iowa State

All season long, BYU had come up short against elite opponents.

There was a 2-point heartbreaker against UConn back in November. Two setbacks against Arizona came by a combined 10 points. A late collapse at Texas Tech resulted in a loss, Houston beat the Cougars in their own building and Kansas thwarted what could have been an epic comeback at Allen Fieldhouse.

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It had become the most disappointing and frustrating of trends. Every time BYU had the opportunity to capture a marquee win for its résumé, the Cougars couldn’t seal the deal.

Until Saturday night, that is.

After beginning the year 0-6 against top 15-ranked squads, BYU finally broke through — and left no doubt — for a 79-69 upset of No. 6 Iowa State, treating the sold-out Marriott Center crowd to the arena’s most electric night of the Kevin Young era thus far.

“We’ve been neck-and-neck with top five teams,” BYU star AJ Dybantsa said. “… We knew we were right there and it was just a matter of time where we collectively brought it together and got a dub.

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“… I mean beating a top-6 team, it’s definitely a statement win. They’re obviously one of the better teams in our league. I think this can be the blueprint going forward.”

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) drives the ball between Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, right, and guard Nate Heise during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts after a foul was called on him during an NCAA basketball game against Iowa State held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Ronald A. Rasband, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, looks to high-five BYU President C. Shane Reese after a play against Iowa State during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

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Publish date : 2026-02-22 09:30:00

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