Kentucky has had a rocky relationship with the CBS Sports Classic. Until knocking off St. John's earlier this season in Atlanta, the Cats were just hanging in there with a record just below .500 (5-6).
That game in Atlanta was a unique "student vs. teacher" moment, with Rick Pitino stepping in after UCLA dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. It was a fun one-off, but St. John's was just a fun one-off; they will not be participating going forward.
The CBS Sports Classic announced today that it has been renewed through 2029, and Kentucky is getting another true giant to square off against.
Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks are officially joining the rotation.
A Massive upgrade
Adding Kansas takes this event to a different level. You now have the three winningest programs in the history of the sport, Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina, all in the same showcase, along with Ohio State. There are no "off" years in this event.
The future schedule
The renewal locks Kentucky into marquee non-conference matchups for the next four years. Here is how the slate breaks down:
- 2026 (Madison Square Garden): Kentucky vs. North Carolina
- 2027: Kentucky vs. Ohio State
- 2028: Kentucky vs. Kansas
- 2029: Kentucky vs. North Carolina
What about the Champions Classic?
This news immediately sparked a question for BBN: Does this mean we play Kansas twice in one season?
Kentucky is already locked into the Champions Classic with Kansas, Duke, and Michigan State. In fact, Kentucky is scheduled to play Kansas in the Champions Classic in November 2026.
However, looking at the CBS schedule above, the organizers were smart enough to avoid the double-dip.
- In 2026-27, UK plays Kansas in November (Champions) and UNC in December (CBS).
- In 2028-29, UK plays Kansas in December (CBS), which means they will likely rotate to play Duke or Michigan State in the Champions Classic that year.
It would have been pretty awesome to see a home-and-home style rivalry develop in neutral sites, but honestly? I'll take the variety.
The bottom line is that Kentucky's non-conference schedule just got even more loaded for the foreseeable future. To be the best, you have to beat the best, and the CBS Sports Classic just ensured the Cats will get that chance every December.