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BYU's Spencer Johnson launches a 3-pointer against Utah State in a men's college basketball game at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (BYU Courtesy Photo)

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Natalie Broekman (left) has been named the new women's gymnastics coach at BYU on Monday, May 4, 2026.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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Since taking over the BYU men’s basketball program in 2024, Kevin Young has yet to face an in-state opponent during the non-conference schedule.

It’s the first time since the early 1960’s that the Cougars didn’t see Utah State, Weber State, Utah Valley, Southern Utah or Utah in the non-conference slate.

BYU and the Utes have played twice during Big 12 play in each of the past two seasons, but other than that, the in-state matchups had gone silent.

The Cougars and Aggies have worked things out: BYU and Utah State announced on Tuesday morning that they will play a two-game series in men’s basketball starting in the 2026-27 campaign.

BYU and Utah State will play the first of two games on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at the Marriott Center in Provo. The final game of the series will take place at Delta Center during the 2027-28 season. Each program will be allotted 50 percent of the available tickets for that game.

The matchup is more significant than just being an in-state game. Getting a Top 25 NET team to come to Provo is actually a pretty big deal. Last season, the Cougars highest-rated non-conference opponent in the Marriott Center was Cal Baptist, which finished No. 98 in the NET and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

The Aggies ended the 2025-26 season 28-7 and No. 25 in the NET. Head coach Jarrod Calhoun left Cache Valley for Cincinnati in March and Utah State hired Northern Iowa coaching legend Ben Jacobson as his replacement.

BYU is still several months from announcing its complete schedule but a few matchups have trickled in, unofficially. The Cougars will open the 2026-27 season at the Delta Center on Nov 2 against Ohio State and will travel to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational Nov. 23-25 with Arizona, Clemson, Colorado State, Ole Miss, Providence, VCU and Washington also in the field. A home game against Montana State on Nov. 12 and a Dec. 19 meeting with San Diego State in Palm Springs have also been scheduled along with home matchups with Northern Colorado, LaSalle and Queens.

Last season, BYU played a preseason game at Nebraska and another one against North Carolina in the Delta Center.

BYU has won 10 straight games against Utah State, as the Cougars lead the all-time series 146-92 including an 87-32 advantage in games played in Provo. The 146 wins are the most against a single opponent in program history, nine more victories than the Cougars have against Big 12 foe Utah.

In their last meeting on Dec. 8, 2021, Alex Barcello was one of four Cougars to score in double figures in BYU’s 82-71 victory at the Marriott Center as the senior finished with a team-high 17 points. Fousseyni Traore chipped in 14 points in 17 minutes of action, going 3-of-4 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free throw line.

BYU hires Broekman as new gymnastics coach

Director of Athletics Brian Santiago has selected former Cougar Natalie Broekman as head gymnastics coach.

“We are excited to name Natalie Broekman the head coach of BYU gymnastics and look forward to the program taking the next step forward under her leadership,” Santiago said. “Natalie brings continuity and the ability to uniquely lift, build and empower her student-athletes. She is all in on BYU and what we’re about here. The future is very bright for BYU gymnastics.”

Broekman joined the BYU coaching staff in 2015 and was elevated to associate head coach in 2021. She has helped build eight of the top 10 scoring teams in BYU history. She has been the primary balance beam coach and assisted with student-athlete development, recruiting, summer camps, team promotion, community outreach, competitions and alumni relations. As BYU’s primary beam coach, she was instrumental in developing All-American  Elease Rollins and guided Brynlee Andersen-Broekman to qualify for the 2025 NCAA National Championship as an individual competitor on beam. In total, Broekman has contributed in the development of four All-Americans and three national-championship qualifiers.

“I am honored and grateful to serve as the next head coach of BYU Gymnastics and am grateful for the trust of President Shane Reese and Athletic Director Brian Santiago,” Broekman said. “This program has shaped me as a lifelong fan, former student-athlete and coach. The tangible, positive momentum surrounding BYU Athletics inspires me. With the support of BYU’s administration, the athletic department and our passionate fans, we will elevate this team to a new level of national relevance. Together with my coaching staff, my commitment is to empower each of our gymnasts to dream big and compete boldly in a culture of excellence, accountability and joy. My heart bleeds blue forever. Go Cougs.”

Broekman was a member of the BYU gymnastics team from 1996-99, coached by Brad and Dawn Cattermole and Shauna Mertz. She was an NACGC-W All-American on the balance beam in 1996. She was the team captain during the 1999 season and broke the school all-around record that season with a score of 39.475.

Broekman was a U.S. Elite National Team Member from 1992-94.

Broekman has a bachelor’s degree in family science from BYU. She and her husband, David, have four children. Her parents were both BYU student-athletes — father Joe Emig (lacrosse) and mother Lori Christensen Emig (track and field). Her younger sister Lindsay was also a gymnast at BYU from 2001-02.