Hike the Y

BYU basketball is in major transition as Aleksej Kostic hits the transfer portal and AJ Dybantsa declares for the 2026 NBA Draft. In this episode, we break down what Kostic’s departure means for the Cougars’ backcourt, how Dybantsa’s draft decision impacts BYU’s ceiling, and what comes next for the roster. Basketball analysis, transfer portal talk, and NBA draft projections all in one place.

If you’re wondering what BYU basketball’s future roster will look like, this episode of Hike the Y ranks every key piece and projects how good the Cougars can be in the next few seasons. We break down guards, wings, and bigs, talk ceiling vs. floor for the 2026–27 roster, and debate whether this group has Top 25 and Big 12 contender upside. Plus, the Aleksej Kostić lover account joins the show to talk all things Kostić, his breakout potential, and why BYU fans are so hyped about him.

Imagine snubbing Kentucky's bluebloods for Provo loyalty—Rob Wright did just that, flipping the script on transfer drama. Then Wahlin circles back from Clemson to his roots. This pod dives into why BYU fans are losing itIn a whirlwind week for BYU basketball, star point guard Rob Wright III—the portal's No. 1 PG who dazzled with 18.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 41% from three last season—withdrew after a Kentucky visit to recommit to the Cougars, sparking rafters buzz. Sealing the excitement, Provo native and ex-Clemson forward Jake Wahlin (6-10, one year left) transferred home, adding frontcourt size and shooting after starting 29 games for the Tigers. These moves supercharge Kevin Young's roster rebuildBYU basketball lands a massive double coup: Rob Wright III pulls a portal U-turn, ditching Kentucky to stay in Provo and chase Cougar legacy (rafters talk incoming?). Plus, Clemson transfer Jake Wahlin (6-10 forward, Provo kid) commits home, boosting frontcourt firepower with his 3-point stroke. We're hyped—join the breakdown on what this means for Kevin Young's squad next season!

Collin Chandler is finally in Provo and Tyler Betsey is on the way, so the boys break down what BYU’s newest weapons really bring to the Cougars on both ends of the floor. They dive into whether Aleksej Kostić was actually “pushed out,” how the guard room politics played out, and what it says about Kevin Young’s vision for the roster. Then they each build a BYU basketball starting five using only players from the current roster, debate fit versus talent, and argue over who should have the ball in their hands when it really matters.

College basketball isn’t just changing—it’s getting picked apart. In this episode, we break down how the transfer portal is quietly stealing from the sport we love, from roster continuity to fan connection. Then we zoom in on Provo and talk through the six BYU players hitting the portal and how much panic (or optimism) Cougar Nation should actually have right now. Stick around to hear where we think BYU goes from here—and whether the portal era is ruining college hoops or just exposing who’s really serious about winning.

We’re recapping the wild BYU hoops season from start to finish. We hand out fake awards, debate the best games and plays, and talk through the biggest surprises and “what if” moments. Ruby “The Rob” Winget joins the show to dish on her favorite Cougs, clutch performances, and where this team goes next.If you love BYU hoops, tap in, subscribe, and tell us your season MVP in the comments.

The boys are back with a full BYU guessing game episode, putting their Cougar knowledge on the line in a bunch of ridiculous, rapid-fire challenges. From stat lines and historic moments to random Big 12 storylines and “there’s no way that’s real” trivia, we see who actually knows BYU sports and who’s just vibes. Play along, keep score, and find out which of the boys is the real BYU junkie by the end of the episode.

BYU journalism prof and reporting legend Othello Richards joins Hike the Y straight from the 2026 Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. He breaks down BYU's epic 10-seed upset over K-State (shoutout AJ Dybantsa's 40!), the Cougs' tough Houston battle, and exclusive locker room chats with players across the league.​​The glass "clear court" LED floor sparked chaos—slips, Texas Tech injuries, fan backlash, and a mid-tourney hardwood swap after coaches revolted. Othello shares raw player reactions, safety gripes, and if it truly leveled the semis play.Plus, his pro tips for nailing interviews, Big 12 vibes, and untold BYU nuggets before Selection Sunday. Must-listen for Cougar fans chasing March Madness.(HikeTheYPod | #BYUBasketball #Big12Hoops #GoCougars)

BYU is back on the big stage, and we’re planting our flag on upset island. In this episode, we break down the Cougars’ matchup with Texas, why the styles and numbers actually favor BYU, and which players have to go off for the Cougs to dance into the Round of 32. We talk bracket chaos, potential hero moments, and whether BYU is about to become everyone’s favorite March Madness bracket buster.

BYU just put the Big 12 on notice, and we’re breaking it all down. We recap the Cougars’ surge in Kansas City, from AJ Dybantsa lighting up the tournament to BYU proving it can hang with the league’s best. Then we pivot to March Madness: projected seed, dream and nightmare matchups, and how far we think BYU can actually go in the bracket this year.

BYU closed the Marriott Center for the season with a badly needed 82–76 upset of No. 10 Texas Tech, snapping a three‑game skid and reminding everyone this team is still terrifying on the right night. We break down Robert Wright III’s insane second‑half takeover, how the Cougars finally figured out the paint and the tempo, and why this might be the exact confidence jolt they needed heading into Kansas City. Then we zoom out to talk Big 12 tournament paths, BYU’s seeding and upset odds, and just how far this team can actually go if the good version shows up.

Dive into Big 12 hoops: Which teams are busts waiting to flop? Cinderellas ready to shock? Or true contenders for the crown? Sharp analytics, bold predictions, and guest insights break it all down

BYU basketball has officially broken our brains. We run ChatGPT’s spiciest Cougar hot takes through the Hike the Y filter, argue over whether this team is actually good, and relive the full whiplash from the Iowa State signature win to the UCF rock bottom. Plus, Connor and Brandon go head‑to‑head in a hoops sound test.

BYU finally got the signature win it’s been chasing, taking down No. 6 Iowa State 79–69 in the Marriott Center’s loudest night of the season. We break down AJ Dybantsa’s ridiculous 29–10–9 masterpiece, how BYU dominated the paint and the glass, and what this means for the Cougs’ March ceiling, plus special guest Ruby Winget joins the show to react to the madness and where BYU goes from here

This week we’re giving some long-overdue love to BYU sports outside the usual football and men’s hoops spotlight. We’re talking women’s gymnastics, women’s basketball, track and field, and men’s volleyball—and we brought on special guest Charly Jensen to help us break it all down. From packed Smith Fieldhouse nights to Big 12 grind games and future Olympians on the track, we rank which programs deserve more hype, who’s closest to a natty, and why Cougar fans need to start watching the whole athletic department.

On a night that should’ve been pure storybook, Jimmer’s No. 32 finally goes into the rafters and the Marriott Center is rocking… and 45 seconds in, Richie Saunders tears his ACL and is done for the season. The boys break down the emotional whiplash of BYU’s OT win over Colorado, what Richie meant as the heart and soul of this squad, and how the Cougs can survive the rest of the Big 12 grind without him.

So we had a fire podcast episode for you guys today about the super bowl and our favorite Super Bowl moments from BYU players who played in the big game. We touched on Bad Bunny and the millionaire streaker that streaked the field. Here is a couple of clips that survived the corruption of the audio file. Go cheer on the cougars this Saturday!

The Cougs are in freefall and the panic meter is heating up. The boys break down BYU’s three‑game skid, what’s actually broken on defense, and whether this team is still built for a March run. They hit the latest twist in the Paul George saga, sprinkle in a little Super Bowl talk, and look ahead to the gauntlet left on BYU’s schedule to see if the Cardiac Cougs can bounce back before it’s too late.

Connor is down bad with the flu but still phones in for a sec as the boys break down a weird Pro Bowl weekend, what BYU has to fix before the next stretch of games, and Paul George getting slapped with a 25‑game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti‑drug policy. From the memes to the on‑field and on‑court drama, Hike the Y dives into whether BYU can clean things up or if they are going to bust.

DEBATE is on deck as we dive into the chaos of G League players hooping in the NCAA. Are former pros an unfair cheat code against true college kids, or just savvy hoopers grabbing a second chance in March? We break down eligibility drama, NIL money, high school recruits getting squeezed, and what this all means for the future of college basketball.

BYU beats Utah and the rivalry trash talk is flowing. We draft our dream BYU basketball roommates, debate whether AJ Dybantsa needs to chill on the flops and start letting it fly, and break down what really went wrong in the Arizona loss. Plus, we talk about how Kenard Davis finally climbed out of his slump and why that changes the ceiling for this team

The Holy War is back, and we’re going all gas no brakes on BYU vs. Utah. From the pettiest moments in rivalry history to why the move to the Big 12 might flip the script, we break down why this matchup hits different now. Whether you wear blue or red, you’re catching strays as we argue who actually owns the future of the Holy War.

Championship or bust. That is the standard AJ Dybantsa just set for BYU, and on this episode of Hike the Y we ask if the Cougs are actually built for a Final Four run or a national title. We break down what went wrong and right against Texas Tech, then look forward on the rest of the season—what has to change, who has to step up, and what it will really take for BYU to be playing on the season’s final weekend.

The Cougs did not make this season easy on anyone, and the boys are here for all of it. In this episode of Hike the Y, the crew walks through the true highs and brutal lows of BYU’s season: statement wins, gut-punch losses, breakout stars, coaching questions, and all the “Cardiac Cougs” moments in between. From games that had Provo buzzing to nights everyone wants to forget, we sort out what was real, what was fool’s gold, and what it all means going into next year.​If you lived and died with BYU every week, this is the full roller coaster, front row seat—tune in and relive the chaos with us.

Kalani Sitake is staying in Provo and Cougar Nation can finally breathe again. In this episode of Hike the Y, the boys react to the breaking news about Kalani turning down Penn State and locking in with BYU, and what it means for the program, the staff, and the future in the Big 12 and CFP race. Then we dive into a full recap of the UCF game, from the ugly 14–0 start to the Bear Bachmeier, LJ Martin, and the special teams flipping the script and clinching a trip to the Big 12 title game. After that, we get real about the anti–Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chants popping up around college football, why that stuff actually hurts people, and how fans can keep the passion without crossing the line. Next, we zoom out to the college football playoff picture and where BYU actually fits in the chaos, what needs to happen around the country, and how real the Cougars’ path is. Finally, we look ahead to the Texas Tech rematch, what has to change from the first matchup for BYU to shock the country, and how that game could swing BYU’s postseason hopes.

How well do BYU fans know their stars? In this episode, we hit the phones with the ultimate Cougar trivia—getting folks to say Bear Bachmier without dropping his name or saying BYU! Test your fan skills along with us. Plus, we scout Cincinnati, preview all the angles for this week’s matchup, and relive the best plays of BYU football’s season so far—epic catches, clutch touchdowns, and game-changing moments. It’s the “Hike the Y” crew at their most creative, competitive, and Cougar-proud!

The Cougars hit the hardwood and the hype starts now! This week, the “Hike the Y” crew breaks down BYU’s clash against UConn, spotlighting key plays, breakout athletes, and what’s clicking early in the season. From defensive stands to clutch buckets, we break down how the Cougs stack up against top-tier competition and why fans should believe in BYU’s national championship dreams. Get the full recap, hot takes on team chemistry, and our honest read on whether this squad has what it takes to cut down the nets.It’s BYU Basketball season, and we’re all in—don’t miss it!

On this episode of Hike the Y, Connor, Ty, Brandon, and Nate dive deep into the TCU vs BYU matchup, breaking down critical plays, big-time stats, and where the Cougars go from here. But we’re not just about the gridiron—listen in as we talk the viral Georgia Bulldogs bark from those iconic Allstate and Cheez-It commercials (“Team, it’s been a grind!”) and how college football ads have become part of the Saturday tradition. Mix in bold playoff talk, plenty of laughs, and the realest BYU fan takes around. Whether you love the Cougs, can’t get enough of football culture, or just want to bark along, this episode is for you!

After a tough loss to Texas Tech, we go deep on everything that happened in Lubbock. This episode breaks down the critical moments in play calling, examines the impact of turnovers, and highlights what Texas Tech did right to secure the win. We also discuss the keys to success for Texas moving forward and dive into the crucial areas BYU needs to improve. Whether you’re a stats nerd, a passionate Cougar fan, or just want some honest postgame analysis, this episode delivers all the insight you need about BYU football’s recent setback and what comes next.

Tune in to Hike the Y as we relive all the nail-biting action from BYU’s showdown with Iowa State—what made it a true “Cardiac Cougs” moment? Our hosts break down turning points, missed chances, and comeback energy, then pivot to preview Saturday’s critical battle with Texas Tech. Expect lively discussion, bold predictions, and plenty of blue pride as BYU pushes through Big 12 competition. Don’t miss this week’s pulse-pounding football talk!