The men’s NCAA Tournament is as much a cultural phenomenon as it is a sporting event, bringing in viewers from all walks of life who may or may not be interested in the sport of men’s college basketball.
As such, what may be well known to diehard basketball fans might be new to viewers tuning in to watch the action for the first time all year. And, every year, certain queries arise around certain teams as they make their March Madness runs.
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Kevin Young’s BYU men’s basketball team is one such team amid the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament. The No. 6 seed Cougars, who beat No. 3 Wisconsin 91-89 to gain their first Sweet 16 berth since 2011, have garnered interest not only for their March Madness berth, but also unique moniker.
With that, here’s what to know of BYU‘s name, what it stands for, the university’s founding and more:
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What does BYU stand for?
The name BYU is an abbreviation for Brigham Young University, eponymously named after the university’s founder in 1875. It is a private institution, and the flagship university of the Church Educational System, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
Who was Brigham Young?
Brigham Young is a prominent member in LDS and Utah state history. He was an American religious leader and politician, not only serving as the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 through 1877, but also serving as the first governor of the Utah territory from 1851-58.
He also was behind the founding of Utah’s two largest institutions: the University of Utah in 1849 and Brigham Young University. Young organized a board of regents to establish a university in Salt Lake Valley. In 1850, the University of Deseret was established, which later changed its name to the University of Utah.
Young later deeded buildings and land in Provo, Utah, to a board of trustees in 1875 to establish a branch of the University of Deseret. The university broke off from the University of Deseret and changed its name to Brigham Young Academy in 1876, a precursor to what would become Brigham Young University.
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Where is BYU located?
- Location: Provo, Utah
- Enrollment: 35,000 students
BYU is located in Provo, Utah and boasts an enrollment of 35,743 total daytime students and 32,823 undergraduate students as of the fall 2024 semester, per its facts and figures page. It also has 198 undergraduate majors; 113 undergraduate minors; 94 master’s programs; and 28 doctoral programs.
