New Dates and a Full-Throttle Outlook for the Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team now has a fully mapped-out route for the 2025–26 season. The regular season hits hard with marquee matchups, conference battles, and powerful exhibitions, all positioned to test this squad from day one.
Exhibition Kickoff – Rupp Arena Lights Up
Before the season officially begins, Kentucky will host two headline-grabbing exhibition games at Rupp Arena:
- Purdue on October 24, 2025
- Georgetown on October 30, 2025
These matchups set a fired-up tone, turning the preseason into a proving ground. citeturn0search6turn0search11turn0search8
Getting Real: The Regular Season Unfoldldcats begin their regular season with early-season tournaments and high-voltage rivalries:
| Date | Matchup | Location/Event |
|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2025 | Nicholls State | BBN United Tipoff Classic at Rupp Arena |
| November 7, 2025 | Valparaiso | BBN United Tipoff Classic at Rupp Arena |
| November 11, 2025 | Louisville | At KFC Yum! Center |
| November 18, 2025 | Michigan State | Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden |
Indiana returns to Lexington on December 13, North Carolina visits on December 2, and other heavyweight fixtures include Gonzaga in Nashville on December 5 and the CBS Sports Classic face‑off with St. John’s in Atlanta on December 20. turn0news26turn0news27turn0news34
Non‑Conference Deep Dive
Additional non-conference games bring Tennessee Tech with ties to John Pelphrey on November 26, North Carolina Central on December id #ddd; padding:8px;”>November 4, 2025Nicholls StateBBN United Tipoff Classic at Rupp ArenaNovember 7, 2025ValparaisoBBN United Tipoff Classic at Rupp ArenaNovember 11, 2025LouisvilleAt KFC Yum! CenterNovember 18, 2025Michigan StateChampions Classic at Madison Square Garden
Indiana returns to Lexington on December 13, North Carolina visits on December 2, and other heavyweight fixtures include Gonzaga in Nashville on December 5 and the CBS Sports Classic face‑off with St. John’s in Atlanta on December 20.
> **[2025-26 Kentucky Basketball schedule set](https://www.aseaofblue.com/kentucky-wildcats-basketball/145349/2025-26-schedule-times-dates-tv-uk?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** · *aseaofblue.com* · 2025/8/12
> The 2025-26 Kentucky Wildcats basketball schedule has been finalized, with the regular season tipping off on November 4 against Nicholls State. The team follows that with a game against Valparaiso on November 7, before a significant early-season showdown on the road against Louisville on November 11, potentially a top-10 matchup. Kentucky then continues its non-conference slate with a game against Michigan State in the Champions Classic.
December features several high-profile matchups, including home games against North Carolina (Dec 2) and Indiana (Dec 13), a neutral-site game in Nashville against Gonzaga (Dec 5), and a CBS Sports Classic face-off with Rick Pitino’s St. John’s on December 20.
Southeastern Conference (SEC) play begins on January 3 at Alabama, with the home SEC opener coming shortly after against Missouri. The regular season concludes on March 7 at home versus defending national champion Florida for Senior Day. Overall, Kentucky is slated to face 21 teams that made last year’s NCAA Tournament, including seven Sweet 16 squads and five Elite Eight programs, with two games scheduled against Florida.
Dates for Big Blue Madness and the Blue-White Game have not yet been confirmed but are expected in mid-October. Game times and TV details will be announced later.
> **[Kentucky basketball’s 2025-26 schedule set: From Purdue to Florida …](https://wildcatbluenation.com/kentucky-basketball-s-2025-26-schedule-set-from-purdue-to-florida-here-s-the-road-ahead?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** · *wildcatbluenation.com* · 2025/8/12
> The calendar says football season is 18 days away, but Kentucky basketball fans just got their own reason to start the countdown. With Monday’s announcement of the new BBN United Tipoff Classic, the Wildcats have finalized their 2025-26 schedule — and it’s loaded with marquee matchups, blue-blood showdowns, and a few potential trap games.
Non‑Conference Deep Dive
Additional non-conference games bring in Loyola (Maryland) on November 21, Tennessee Tech with ties to John Pelphrey on November 26, North Carolina Central on December 9, and Bellarmine on December 23—all at Rupp Arena.
SEC Battles Begin—And Finish—With a Statement
Conference play delivers no easing in:
- January 3, 2026: at Alabama opens SEC play
- First home conference game: Missouri on January 6 or 7
- Season closes on March 7, 2026, at home vs. defending national champion Florida on Senior Day
Home-and-away series with Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Florida. The road brings trips to powerhouse programs like Arkansas, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, Alabama, and Texas A&M. 0news28turn0search6turn0news35turn0news28turn0search6
What This Schedule Means</hof the gate.
- Strong tests in both home and neutral venues to build grit andntral (Dec. 9), and Bellarmine (Dec. 23). This will be the Wildcats’ first-ever game against North Carolina Central and their second recent matchup against Bellarmine, having won in the 2022-23 season. Kentucky has historical winning records against all announced opponents: 5-0 against Tennessee Tech, 32-25 against Indiana, and a previous win against Loyola during the 2011-12 season. TV details and game times will be announced later.
SEC Battles Begin—And Finish—With a Statement
Conference play delivers no easing in:
- January 3, 2026: at Alabama opens SEC play
- First home conference game: Missouri on January 6 or 7
- Season closes on March 7, 2026, at home vs. defending national champion Florida on Senior Day
Home-and-away series with Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Florida. The road brings trips to powerhouse programs like Arkansas, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, Alabama, and Texas A&M.
> **[2026 Kentucky Basketball SEC schedule set](https://www.aseaofblue.com/kentucky-wildcats-mens-basketball-schedule/108115/2026-sec-games-dates?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** · *A Sea Of Blue* · 2025/8/7
> The 2025–26 SEC schedule for the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team has been released. The Wildcats will begin SEC play on January 3 with an away game against Alabama and close out the regular season on March 7 at home against defending national champion Florida, marking Senior Day. The team’s first home SEC game is scheduled against Missouri on January 6 or 7.
Kentucky will play both home and away games against Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Florida. Other home opponents include Ole Miss, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas—all of whom participated in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. On the road, Kentucky will face Alabama, Arkansas (led by former coach John Calipari), Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, and Texas A&M. Arkansas reached the Sweet 16, Alabama made the Elite Eight, and Auburn advanced to the Final Four in the previous season, highlighting the strength of the SEC.
> **[Kentucky men’s basketball releases SEC schedule for 2025-26](https://www.lex18.com/sports/bbn-tonight/kentucky-mens-basketball-releases-sec-schedule-for-2025-26?utm_source=chatgpt.com)** · *LEX 18 News – Lexington, KY (WLEX)* · 2025/8/6
> The SEC unveiled the schedule for the upcoming basketball season, and the Kentucky Wildcats will begin and end league play against familiar foes: Alabama and Florida.
What This Schedule Means
- A deep slate of high-stakes games right out of the gate.
- Strong tests in both home and neutral venues to build grit and resume strength.
- Back‑to‑back matchups with the reigning champion Florida bring edge-of-your-seat closure.
With Coach Pope entering Year 2, this schedule is a gauntlet built to sharpen the squad for March and beyond.
The Wildcats’ path for 2025–26 is set—and it’s a full-contact run, no holding back.
