What we know about Kentucky basketball's 2026 nonconference schedule

LEXINGTON — Kentucky basketball‘s 2026-27 schedule is still in its early stages.

To this point, only five games have been officially announced. All are listed on the program’s website.

As UK coach Mark Pope enters his third season guiding his alma mater, the season ahead includes a quintet of high-profile matchups.

It begins Nov. 10 in Chicago, as Kentucky tangles with fellow blue blood Kansas in a Champions Classic clash at the United Center. It’s always an eagerly anticipated contest when the two winningest programs in the sport collide, but this season’s matchup includes a little extra intrigue: Tyran Stokes, the unanimous top-ranked prospect in the 2026 class, chose the Jayhawks over the Wildcats in April.

UK has another neutral-site meeting with a longtime rival Nov. 20, traveling to Indianapolis to take on Indiana. Though it’s being held at Lucas Oil Stadium, it will count as a home game for the Hoosiers. It’s the second game in a four-year contract the two schools signed in October 2023. UK won the first game in the series, rallying for a 72-60 victory at Rupp Arena last season.

The fourth edition of the ACC/SEC Challenge has Kentucky back on the road in 2026-27. On Dec. 2, UK will face Virginia at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Wildcats are 1-2 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. They won the first edition in November 2023, topping Miami in Lexington. But they’ve yet to win a game in the series under Pope, falling at Clemson in December 2024 and at home last season to North Carolina.

The most notable nonconference tilt at Rupp Arena will be the annual Battle of the Bluegrass rivalry with Louisville, set for Dec. 12. Pope and UofL’s Pat Kelsey each have won one time in the series since taking over their respective programs ahead of the 2024-25 season. The Wildcats won by eight points at Rupp in December 2024, then the Cardinals returned the favor last season at the KFC Yum! Center. The Cards haven’t tasted victory in Lexington since 2008.

The final marquee matchup before UK jumps into SEC play will be part of the CBS Sports Classic. Kentucky travels to the Big Apple on Dec. 19 for a contest against North Carolina. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.

Other matchups, including the Cats’ preseason exhibitions and the conference slate for the 2026-27 campaign, will be announced at a later date.

• Nov. 10: vs. Kansas (Champions Classic; United Center, Chicago), Time TBA

• Nov. 20: vs. Indiana (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis), Time TBA

• Dec. 2: at Virginia (ACC/SEC Challenge; John Paul Jones Arena; Charlottesville, Virginia), Time TBA

• Dec. 12: vs. Louisville (Rupp Arena), Time TBA

• Dec. 19: vs. North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York)

Nov. 10: vs. Kansas (Champions Classic; United Center, Chicago), Time TBA

Nov. 20: vs. Indiana (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis), Time TBA

Dec. 2: at Virginia (ACC/SEC Challenge; John Paul Jones Arena; Charlottesville, Virginia), Time TBA

Dec. 12: vs. Louisville (Rupp Arena), Time TBA

Dec. 19: vs. North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York)

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: UK basketball plays Louisville, Indiana, Kansas, UNC, Virginia in 2026