Last month, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy came to Provo for Fox “Big Noon Kickoff” and got his first taste of BYU. Now, Portnoy has become a crusader of sorts for the Cougars, using his various platforms to lobby on their behalf over the past few weeks.

BYU eventually trailed by 20 and then roared back to have a shot to tie the game in the final seconds, only to lose by two.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young calls out to his team during the game between the BYU Cougars and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Delta Center on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Boston • BYU guard Kennard Davis was cited for allegedly driving under the influence on Thursday morning, Provo police said.

Following a narrow, two-point loss to UConn in Boston this past weekend, the Cougars slid two spots from No. 7 to No. 9 in Tuesday’s latest AP Top 25 poll. It’s the third consecutive top-10 poll for BYU, as the Cougars opened at No. 8 in the preseason rankings, rose to No. 7 last week and now find themselves at No. 9.

BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa led all scorers with 25 points. The 6-foot-8 wing is now averaging 20.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest through four games while shooting 57.4% from the field and 40.0% from 3-point range.

The Cougars sacked TCU quarterback Josh Hoover three times, recorded six tackles for loss and held the Horned Frogs to 3.4 yards per carry and 13 total points. BYU will now head east to Cincinnati in an attempt to move to 10-1 on the season and remain in the Big 12 title race.

The TCU Horned Frogs, led by quarterback Josh Hoover, face the No. 12 BYU Cougars, led by quarterback Bear Bachmeier, on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.

Texas Tech football is No. 1 in the Big 12 power rankings for 10th straight week. The latest rout moves Red Raiders closer to first Big 12 title game.

Melissa combo guard Austin Goosby committed to head coach Sean Miller and the Texas Longhorns on Monday over the BYU Cougars, Baylor Bears, and the Duke Blue Devils in the biggest recruiting coup of Miller’s tenure on the Forty Acres.