BYU Falls 99-92 to Oklahoma State: Key Takeaways

Brigham Young University (BYU) is a prominent institution sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, offering a unique blend of academic and spiritual growth. Founded nearly 150 years ago, BYU has evolved into one of the largest private universities in the U.S., with a diverse student body of over 35,000 from 105 countries[4]. ## History and Organization BYU's history is deeply intertwined with its religious roots, with the university being part of the Church Educational System (CES)[2]. The institution is organized under a board of trustees, with the church's president serving as chairman[2]. BYU operates through 11 colleges, offering 198 major programs, 113 minor programs, and numerous graduate degrees[4]. ## Key Achievements - **Academic Excellence**: BYU is renowned for its top-ranked programs, including the No. 2 accounting program in the U.S. Its J. Reuben Clark Law School and Marriott School of Business are among the top 30 schools in their respective fields[4]. - **International Engagement**: BYU offers over 200 international study abroad programs across 60 countries, making it one of the top study abroad programs in the nation[4]. - **Linguistic Diversity**: Students at BYU speak over 121 languages, reflecting the university's global reach[4]. ## Current Status Currently, BYU is focused on enhancing its student experience through initiatives like the Inspiring Learning Initiative and advancing faith-based teaching[3]. The university also hosts significant events, such as the BYU Women's Conference, which draws thousands of participants annually[5]. ## Notable Aspects - **BYUSA**: The BYU Student Service Association (BYUSA) plays a crucial role in connecting students with leadership opportunities and volunteer activities[1]. - **Spiritual and Intellectual Growth**: BYU aims to provide an education that is spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, and character building[3]. - **Innovative Programs**: Programs like BYU

**Oklahoma State University (OSU)**, informally known as Oklahoma State, is a flagship public land-grant research university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, serving as the cornerstone of the Oklahoma State University System with over 34,000 students system-wide and a $1.89 billion fiscal year 2026 budget.[1][2] Founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act as **Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M)**, OSU welcomed its first students in 1891 amid local churches before constructing its inaugural building in 1894 on a vast prairie.[1] The system expanded with campuses like OSU-Institute of Technology (1946), OSU-Oklahoma City (1961), OSU-Tulsa (1984), and the Center for Health Sciences (1988), including a tribally affiliated medical school in Tahlequah.[1] Today, it enrolls 26,805–27,241 students (Fall 2024 data), classified as an **R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity** institution, with $226.5 million in 2023 R&D spending per the National Science Foundation.[1][2] OSU excels in agriculture, engineering, business, sciences, veterinary medicine, and osteopathic medicine across seven colleges, plus recent additions like the College of Education and Human Sciences (2020) and Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE, 2021).[1][3] Its athletics shine in the Big 12 Conference, with Cowboy and Cowgirl teams claiming **52 national championships**—tops in the conference.[2] Notable alumni include Garth Brooks, T. Boone Pickens, and Barry Sanders.[2] Ranked #1 for best college and most affordable in Oklahoma (Research.com, 2026), OSU boasts America's largest student union, a 20:1 student-faculty ratio, and

The **Big 12 Conference** is a premier NCAA Division I athletic conference sponsoring 25 sports across 16 universities in 10 states, renowned for its competitive football, basketball, and Olympic sports programs.[4][1] Headquartered in Irving, Texas, it fosters elite competition, academic excellence (over 800 Academic All-America recipients), and innovation under Commissioner **Brett Yormark** since 2022.[4] Its roots trace to 1907 with the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletics Association, evolving into the Big 6 (1928) via Kansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma; Colorado joined in 1948 (Big 7), Oklahoma State in 1959 (Big 8).[1][3] Officially founded in 1994 and launching in 1996, it merged the Big 8 with Texas schools (Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor) from the Southwest Conference, creating a powerhouse split into North-South divisions.[2][4][6] **Key achievements** include 92 team NCAA national championships and 775 individual titles as of 2025, with basketball standouts like recent Houston dominance (2023-24, 2024-25 regular season) and Kansas's legacy.[1][2][4] Iconic rivalries, such as Colorado-Kansas State (68 games), add storied drama.[2] Turbulent realignments define its history: Nebraska and Colorado exited in 2011 (to Big Ten, Pac-12); Missouri and Texas A&M in 2012 (to SEC), replaced by TCU and West Virginia.[1][2] Stability returned with BYU, Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston in 2023, then a 2024 blockbuster—adding Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado (rejoin), and Utah as Texas and Oklahoma departed to the SEC—stabilizing at 16 members.[1][