Kentucky will not open the regular season against Louisville on November 11 — two additional games will come before the in-state rivalry battle, followed by one shortly after. In what will be known as the BBN United Tipoff Classic, the Wildcats will host a three-game multi-team event to open the nonconference schedule, starting with Nicholls […]
Kentucky will not open the regular season against Louisville on November 11 — two additional games will come before the in-state rivalry battle, followed by one shortly after.
In what will be known as the BBN United Tipoff Classic, the Wildcats will host a three-game multi-team event to open the nonconference schedule, starting with Nicholls on Nov. 4 in the season opener. From there, Valparaiso will come to Lexington on Nov. 7, with Eastern Illinois also heading to Rupp Arena on Nov. 14.
Game times and television assignments will be announced at a later date.
Kentucky will be taking on Nicholls and Eastern Illinois for the first time in program history while the Wildcats have taken on Valparaiso twice — both wins for the blue and white in 2002 (83-68) and 2016 (87-63).
As you’ve heard by now, BBN United has been unveiled as the official fan club of UK Athletics. Joining for a monthly fee gives fans insider access to their favorite programs, limited-edition merchandise, exclusive content, and experiences with UK coaches and players, with proceeds going directly to the department and reinvested in its programs.
“BBN United is an incredible way to bring the Big Blue Nation even closer to our program,” Mark Pope said of the new fan club. “Our fans are the heartbeat of Kentucky basketball, and now they have an inclusive way to be a part of our journey, one that supports our players, fuels revenue-sharing and NIL and celebrates everything that makes this place special. There’s no better community to lead the way than BBN.”
With that, the 2025-26 schedule is now officially complete — all 31 regular-season games and two exhibitions accounted for:
| Date | Opponent/Event | Location |
| Oct. 24 | Purdue (exhibition) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Oct. 30 | Georgetown (exhibition) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Nov. 4 | Nicholls (BBN United Tipoff Classic) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Nov. 7 | Valparaiso (BBN United Tipoff Classic) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Nov. 11 | at Louisville | KFC Yum! Center (Louisville, Ky.) |
| Nov. 14 | Eastern Illinois (BBN United Tipoff Classic) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Nov. 18 | vs. Michigan State (Champions Classic) | Madison Square Garden (New York) |
| Nov. 21 | Loyola (Md.) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Nov. 26 | Tennessee Tech | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Dec. 2 | North Carolina (ACC/SEC Challenge) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Dec. 5 | vs. Gonzaga | Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tenn.) |
| Dec. 9 | North Carolina Central | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Dec. 13 | Indiana | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Dec. 20 | vs. St. John’s (CBS Sports Classic) | State Farm Arena (Atlanta) |
| Dec. 23 | Bellarmine | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Jan. 3 | at Alabama (SEC) | Coleman Coliseum (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) |
| Jan. 6/7 | Missouri (SEC) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Jan. 10 | Mississippi State (SEC) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Jan. 13/14 | at LSU (SEC) | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, La.) |
| Jan. 17 | at Tennessee (SEC) | Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center (Knoxville, Tenn.) |
| Jan. 20/21 | Texas (SEC) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Jan. 24 | Ole Miss (SEC) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Jan. 27/28 | at Vanderbilt (SEC) | Memorial Gymnasium (Nashville, Tenn.) |
| Jan. 31 | at Arkansas (SEC) | Bud Walton Arena (Fayetteville, Ark.) |
| Feb. 3 | Oklahoma (SEC) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Feb. 7 | Tennessee (SEC) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Feb. 14 | at Florida (SEC) | Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center (Gainesville, Fla.) |
| Feb. 17/18 | Georgia (SEC) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| Feb. 21 | at Auburn (SEC) | Neville Arena (Auburn, Ala.) |
| Feb. 24/25 | at South Carolina (SEC) | Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, S.C.) |
| Feb. 28 | Vanderbilt (SEC) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
| March 3/4 | at Texas A&M (SEC) | Reed Arena (Bryan-College Station, Texas) |
| March 7 | Florida (SEC) | Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center |
Category: General Sports
