Kentucky Basketball 2025-26 Schedule Revealed: Which Surprising Showdowns Could Define the Wildcats’ Season?

Okay, so here’s the lowdown on Kentucky hoops as the Wildcats gear up to crank the 2025-26 season into high gear. Before Mark Pope’s crew even hits the regular-season hardwood, they’re lining up not one, but two eye-popping exhibition games on their home turf at Rupp Arena. Fans will get a sneak peek against Big Ten heavyweight Purdue on October 24, quickly followed by a battle with the Hoyas of Georgetown on October 30.

Sure, the full schedule is still a work in progress—these puzzle pieces are flying in—but there’s already some serious marquee matchups locked in. Think old-school rivalry fireworks against Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center, a showdown with Michigan State in the electric atmosphere of Madison Square Garden’s Champions Classic, a December clash with Gonzaga in Nashville, and a head-to-head with St. John’s featuring none other than Rick Pitino on the opposing sidelines in the CBS Sports Classic. Oh, and word is UK will host an ACC rival this year for the ACC/SEC Challenge, continuing that ever-enticing interconference rivalry saga.

There are whispers (but no official nod yet) about additional nonconference foes like Indiana, Bellarmine, and North Carolina Central joining the party at Rupp. Meanwhile, the SEC schedule remains under wraps, building that suspense for all of us Wildcats devotees.

Mark Pope’s Wildcats are shaping up for a season that promises both high drama and memorable moments on the hardwood—stay tuned because this ride’s just getting started.

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AI-assisted summary
• The Wildcats’ 2025-26 schedule includes exhibition contests against Purdue and Georgetown and games against Louisville, Michigan State, Gonzaga and St. John’s.
• UK is expected to host an ACC opponent for the ACC/SEC Challenge.
• Nonconference opponents UK has yet to officially confirm include Indiana, Bellarmine and North Carolina Central.

The SEC will reveal the league slate for the 2025-26 campaign at a later date.Other nonconference games that have been reported, but not yet verified by UK, are Indiana (Dec. 13 at Rupp, per CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein), Bellarmine (Dec. 23 at Rupp, according to Rothstein) and North Carolina Central (at Rupp on a date to be determined, per Rothstein).After hosting Miami in 2023 and traveling to Clemson last year, Kentucky likely will welcome an ACC foe to Lexington for this year’s ACC/SEC Challenge.But a handful of games have been confirmed by UK, per the schedule on the team’s official website.

UK announced Wednesday it will welcome Georgetown to Lexington for a preseason exhibition Oct. 30. That contest will be less than a week after another exhibition at Rupp: Big Ten power Purdue will square off with Kentucky on Oct. 24.

LEXINGTON — Kentucky basketball will host a pair of high-profile exhibitions at Rupp Arena before coach Mark Pope‘s second season officially tips off.It’s a schedule that includes matchups against in-state rival Louisville (at the KFC Yum! Center on Nov. 11), Michigan State (in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 18), Gonzaga (in Nashville on Dec. 5) and St. John’s, facing former UK and U of L coach Rick Pitino in a CBS Sports Classic clash in Atlanta on Dec. 20.

The Wildcats’ 2025-26 slate still is being pieced together.

• Oct. 24: exhibition vs. Purdue (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
• Oct. 30: exhibition vs. Georgetown (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
• Nov. 11: at Louisville (KFC Yum! Center), Time TBA
• Nov. 18: vs. Michigan State (Champions Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York)
• Dec. 5: vs. Gonzaga (Bridgestone Arena; Nashville)
• Dec. 20: vs. St. John’s (CBS Sports Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta)

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.