Why Bill Self’s Bold Move to Play Louisville Could Change Kansas Basketball Forever

When two powerhouses like Kansas and Louisville set their sights on facing off in a multi-year exhibition series, you know it’s not just another preseason skirmish—it’s a statement. The Cardinals will kick off this exciting saga on October 24 at the KFC Yum! Center, with the Jayhawks returning the favor in Lawrence during the 2026-27 season. Bill Self, the ever-pragmatic Kansas coach, welcomes the fresh rule change allowing these high-stakes exhibition matchups, seeing it as prime prep for a grinding early slate. With Louisville coming off a strong season under new coach Pat Kelsey, this series is poised to be a basketball bonanza that pushes both teams hard. There are still questions about financials and NIL impacts swirling around, but one thing’s clear: fans should brace for some intense court battles well before the regular season tip-off. LEARN MORE

Louisville’s announcement did not outline that this game would be played for charity, and when asked if there was a potential benefit this game could have regarding revenue sharing, Self wasn’t sure how it would play out in the end.The Cardinals will host the Jayhawks for an exhibition game on Oct. 24 at the KFC Yum! Center, as the two sides continue their preparations for the 2025-26 season. Kansas will then host Louisville for one in Lawrence that will be a part of each team’s 2026-27 slates. The tip-off time and TV designation for the initial exhibition matchup have not been determined, but regardless, it will be a high-profile contest.

“I actually like the idea of the rule change, being able to play somebody like that, and I like playing a road game,” KU coach Bill Self said. “We’ve been beaten the last two years in a road game, even though they weren’t real games, but I think it’s good preparation for, especially, an early-season game. And Louisville should be loaded. It’ll be a tough start to what will be a ridiculously hard schedule.”

LAWRENCE — Louisville announced Tuesday it has scheduled a multi-year exhibition series with Kansas basketball.

According to Louisville’s release, there was a proposal approved by the Division I oversight committee for men’s basketball that allows teams to play as many as two preseason exhibitions against four-year schools — including teams at the Division I level. In the past, a waiver process was needed to approve an exhibition like this. The proceeds were also donated to charity.

Kansas’ road exhibition in 2024 came against Arkansas. The year before that, KU faced Illinois on the road in an exhibition. The Arkansas exhibition benefited mental health providers and charities, while the Illinois exhibition benefited the rapid response and recovery effort for the wildfires in Maui.I don’t know how that will play out yet in this year’s deal, but it is beneficial that we can at least receive a payout to go somewhere. Now, whether or not that goes to NIL or goes to the athletic department, I don’t know how that works.”

“I don’t know that I understand the rule well enough, and the settlement’s not signed,” Self said. “From what I understand is, they’ll pay us a guarantee to go there, and then if we were to host a similar game, then we would pay that respective team a guarantee to come to our place. But in the past, through a charity game, that could go towards NIL if it’s a charity game and it’s a legitimate NIL opportunity.The Jayhawks are coming off a season in which they went 21-13 and reached the round of 64 of the NCAA tournament. Pat Kelsey, in his first year as the Cardinals’ coach, guided the team to a 27-8 record and a round of 64 appearance in the NCAA tournament as well.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.