BYU shocks No. 23 Wisconsin 98-70 as Richie Saunders drops 26 in first ranked win of season

When Richie Saunders drained his fifth three-pointer with 4:32 left in the game, the Brigham Young University Cougars weren’t just winning—they were sending a message. On Friday, November 21, 2025, at 3:00 PM Mountain Time, BYU crushed the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers 98-70 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, marking the Cougars’ first-ever victory over a ranked opponent in the 2025-2026 season. The 28-point margin? Unthinkable for a team that hadn’t beaten a top-25 foe in over two years. And the man who made it happen? Saunders, the junior guard who’s now become Wisconsin’s personal nightmare.

A Night of Pure Dominance

BYU didn’t just win—they dismantled Wisconsin’s rhythm. The Badgers, known for their disciplined half-court offense and physical interior play, looked lost. They missed eight straight shots over a 5½-minute stretch in the first half. Then another five in a row. Their field goal percentage dipped to 32% before halftime. Meanwhile, the Cougars went on a 13-0 run early, sparked by three-pointers from Saunders, Rob Wright III, and Tyler Mrus. By the time AJ Dybantsa finished a steal-and-dunk from Khadim Mboup, BYU led 34-18. Wisconsin’s defense? Nonexistent.

Saunders finished with 26 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals—5-of-8 from deep. It was his second straight monster game against the Badgers, following a 25-point, 7-rebound performance in the NCAA Tournament just eight months prior. This wasn’t luck. This was a statement. And it came with a supporting cast that matched his intensity. Dybantsa, the 6’7” freshman, added 18 points and 6 rebounds despite foul trouble, picking up his fourth personal foul just 2:10 into the second half. Wright, the senior floor general, dished out 11 assists—three more than Wisconsin’s entire team. That’s not just playmaking. That’s control.

Wisconsin’s Collapse Wasn’t Accidental

For Wisconsin, it was a perfect storm of offensive stagnation and defensive breakdowns. Guard Nick Boyd led the Badgers with 16 points, and forward Nolan Winter fought hard with a double-double (14 points, 14 rebounds). But the rest of the team? Disconnected. Guards John Blackwell and Braeden Carrington each scored 14, but they combined for 11-of-34 shooting. Wisconsin shot 37.7% from the field and a season-worst 24.1% from three—down from their usual elite offensive output. They scored only 9 points over a 10-minute stretch in the second half. That’s not a cold streak. That’s a collapse.

BYU’s defensive scheme, anchored by Mboup and Diomande at the five after the return of injured center Keba Keita, disrupted Wisconsin’s post game completely. The Badgers couldn’t find easy baskets inside, and their perimeter shooters were constantly harassed. “They were everywhere,” one Wisconsin assistant reportedly told reporters after the game. “It felt like we were playing against five guys who knew where the ball was going before it was passed.”

A National Statement

This wasn’t just a win. It was a declaration. The Brigham Young University Cougars are no longer a mid-major outlier. They’re a contender. The NCAA March Madness Twitter account (@MarchMadnessMBB) called it “one of the most dominant top-25 upsets of the season,” highlighting the 28-point margin as exceptionally rare for BYU. In the last decade, the Cougars had only beaten two ranked teams by more than 20 points—and neither was in the top 25.

Coach Kevin Young, in his first full season at the helm, has built a team that plays with pace, precision, and poise. The Cougars are now 4-1, with wins over three Power Five opponents this season. And they’ve done it without relying on a single superstar—Saunders is the scoring leader, but Wright’s playmaking, Dybantsa’s energy, and Mboup’s rim protection make them dangerous from every angle.

What’s Next? Thanksgiving Showdowns

Both teams head into Thanksgiving with diverging trajectories. Wisconsin (4-1) faces Providence College on Thursday, November 27, 2025, in San Diego’s Rady Children’s Invitational. They’ll need to fix their shooting and stop the bleeding before Big Ten play begins. BYU, also 4-1, travels to Lake Buena Vista, Florida, to take on the University of Miami Hurricanes on the same day in the ESPN Events Invitational. A win there could push BYU into the top 5 for the first time since 2018.

One thing’s clear: the Cougars aren’t just playing for conference standings anymore. They’re playing for national respect. And with Saunders, Wright, and Dybantsa heating up at the right time, they might just get it.