The 2025–26 Kentucky men’s basketball schedule is official, and it’s loaded with marquee matchups, national TV slots, and SEC showdowns as Mark Pope enters his second season at the helm.
The only big negative is there are a lot of games on SEC Network+, the digital only channel some fans don't have access to. From Big Blue Madness to March in Nashville, here’s what to expect this season.
Key Non-Conference Highlights
Kentucky opens with fan-favorite events:
- Big Blue Madness – October 11 (SEC+) 6 pm
- Blue-White Game – October 17 (SEC+) 7 pm
- Purdue (Exhibition) – October 24 (SECN) 6 pm
Then the real tests begin:
- at Louisville- November 11 (ESPN) 8 pm
- vs. Michigan State – November 18 (ESPN) 6:30 pm
- vs. North Carolina – December 2 in the ACC/SEC Challenge (ESPN) 9:30 pm
- vs. Gonzaga – December 5 (ESPN2) 7 pm
- vs. Indiana – December 13 (ESPN) 7:30 pm
- vs. St. John’s – December 20 at Madison Square Garden (CBS) 12:30 pm
The early schedule mixes nostalgia, challenge, and national exposure, key ingredients for a new team establishing their identity and building on the foundation set last year.
SEC schedule highlights
Conference play begins January 3 at Alabama (ESPN), with back-to-back home matchups against Missouri and Mississippi State the following week.
Other can’t-miss games include:
- vs. Tennessee – February 7 (ESPN) 8:30 pm
- at Auburn – February 21 (ESPN2) 8:30 pm
- at Texas A&M – March 3 (ESPN) 7 pm
- vs. Florida – March 7 (ESPN2) 4 pm
The SEC Tournament tips off March 11–15 in Nashville, where Pope will aim to deliver Kentucky’s first conference title in the post-Covid era.
A season built for storylines
Between home-heavy stretches and national showcases, Kentucky’s 2025–26 schedule is built for both growth and exposure. Every test will serve as a measuring stick for how far Pope’s Wildcats have come, and how far they can go.
For a full look at every game, please click here.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion