John Calipari set to return to Rupp Arena: Full list of Kentucky’s SEC opponents

The 2024-25 SEC basketball schedule is still undetermined, but on Monday, the conference released the full list of opponents for each of the 16 teams in the newly expanded 16-team league. Naturally, the most highly anticipated matchup next season will be between John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks and Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats. 

Both teams have been in an arms race to build up their rosters through the transfer portal after a game of head coach musical chairs ensued in the SEC, and at some point next season, Arkansas will be returning to Rupp Arena in Lexington where Pope will have a chance to measure himself against his predecessor. 

The date for the matchup has not been set, but instead of two head-to-head games, UK and Arkansas only have one chance to settle any scores. Luckily for Big Blue Nation, Kentucky fans will have an opportunity to give their former head coach a warm welcome. 

Beyond that budding rivalry game, notable home games for Kentucky will be against reigning SEC regular season champs, Tennessee, and reigning SEC Tournament champs, Alabama. 

On the road, Kentucky is heading to face SEC newcomers Texas and Oklahoma. The teams that the Wildcats play twice are Alabama, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.

Here is the full list of opponents for the Wildcats in Year 1 of the Mark Pope era. 

Home: 

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Auburn
• Florida
• LSU
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas A&M
• Vanderbilt

Away: 

• at Alabama
• at Georgia
• at Ole Miss
• at Mississippi State
• at Missouri
• at Oklahoma
• at Tennessee
• at Texas
• at Vanderbilt