SALT LAKE CITY — Ohio State won't have the luxury of easing into the 2026-27 basketball season. The Buckeyes open their campaign Monday night against No. 25 BYU at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, giving head coach Jake Diebler and his revamped roster an immediate chance to make a statement.

Ohio State enters Diebler's third full season after finishing 21-13 last year and returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. The Buckeyes fell to TCU in the opening round, but the tournament appearance provided a foundation for a program looking to take the next step.

The biggest change is the departure of Bruce Thornton, Ohio State's all-time leading scorer. His absence leaves a massive hole in the backcourt, although the Buckeyes return one of the Big Ten's better perimeter shooters in John Mobley Jr.

Mobley averaged 15.7 points last season while shooting better than 41 percent from three-point range. He injured his ankle during Ohio State's October 25 exhibition victory over Butler, however, and his availability for Monday's opener remains uncertain. 

Ohio State also returns sophomore forward Amare Bynum, who averaged 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds last season. Bynum finished his freshman campaign strong and should have an expanded offensive role. Transfer guard Justin Pippen adds experience and ball-handling ability, while five-star freshman Anthony Thompson gives the Buckeyes another talented option on the wing.

BYU presents a difficult opening assignment. The Cougars finished 23-12 last season and also reached the NCAA Tournament before falling in the first round. Head coach Kevin Young returns guard Robert Wright III and has added experienced forward Jaxon Kohler, giving BYU offensive threats both inside and along the perimeter.

The Cougars also welcome five-star freshman Bruce Branch III, setting up an intriguing matchup between two of the nation's highly regarded newcomers in Branch and Thompson.

Ohio State split its two exhibition games, falling 79-68 to Cincinnati before defeating Butler 82-73. The Buckeyes showed improvement against the Bulldogs, with Bynum leading the way with 23 points.

Monday's game will be the eighth meeting between the programs and their first since 1997. Ohio State leads the all-time series 4-3, but BYU will have a substantial advantage in crowd support despite the contest being played at a neutral site.

For Ohio State, controlling the tempo, defending the perimeter, and finding consistent scoring beyond Mobley will be important. The Buckeyes have enough offensive talent to challenge BYU, but they'll need to limit turnovers and avoid allowing the Cougars to dominate around the basket.

Game Information

Prediction

BYU enters as a slight favorite, with widely listed betting spreads giving the Cougars approximately a 3.5-point advantage. But Ohio State has the perimeter scoring and offensive versatility to pull off the upset. Expect a competitive game throughout, with the Buckeyes making enough plays down the stretch to win by four points.

Final Score: Ohio State 82, BYU 78