The wait is over!
The 2026-27 college basketball season is finally here, and it begins with a packed slate of juicy nonconference matchups. Below are 10 games you can’t miss in November, including an unprecedented opening day event, a meeting of top-10 teams in the Champions Classic and more.
Villanova vs. Notre Dame, Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m., FOX
College basketball is going international. The season begins with a historic matchup between the Wildcats and Fighting Irish in Rome, Italy. Inspired by the recent election of Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova graduate, the “Eternal City Tip-Off” will take place this Sunday at the Palazzo dello Sport. Villanova is heavily favored after a fruitful offseason that included the addition of Italian native Luigi Suigo, a 7-foot-3 freshman center who’s projected as a first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft.
No. 14 Miami vs. No. 1 Florida, Nov. 2, 6 p.m., ESPN2
The No. 1 team in the country kicks off its season with a difficult matchup against in-state rival Miami at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. After winning an SEC title last season, Florida retained most of its core, including three players ranked in the top 11 of Hoops HQ’s Top 100: 6-foot-9 senior forward Thomas Haugh, 6-foot-10 senior center Rueben Chinyelu and 6-foot-11 senior forward Alex Condon. Expectations are similarly high for the Hurricanes, who finished third in the ACC in Jai Lucas’ first season at the helm and added several prominent names via the portal this spring.
The matchup to watch is inside, where Chinyelu will battle another bruising big man in 6-foot-11 junior center Somto Cyril, a transfer from Georgia. When the two clashed last January, Cyril was ejected for throwing an elbow at Chinyelu.
No. 4 UConn vs. No. 16 Michigan, Nov. 6, 8 p.m., TNT
Five days into the regular season, we’re getting a rematch of the 2026 national title game at the legendary TD Garden in Boston. This time, the Huskies should be favored. UConn built around its promising backcourt — 6-foot-4 senior point guard Silas Demary Jr. and 6-foot-6 sophomore wing Braylon Mullins — this spring, adding the No. 3-ranked transfer class in the Big East, per 247Sports.
Michigan also retained its backcourt — 6-foot-1 senior guard Elliot Cadeau and 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Trey McKenney — but will have a different identity after losing head coach Dusty May and its stellar frontcourt to the NBA. A win here for Mike Boynton and the Wolverines would be a major statement.
No. 12 Arkansas vs. No. 9 Virginia, Nov. 8, 1 p.m., ESPN
Youth vs. retention! John Calipari’s new roster at Arkansas features a whopping eight freshmen, three of whom were ranked in the top 20 nationally by 247Sports. The headliner is 6-foot-4 combo guard Jordan Smith Jr., the reigning Naismith High School Player of the Year. The Razorbacks have a lot of unknowns but an exceptionally high ceiling.
Virginia, on the other hand, is a safe bet to be a fixture in the top 25 throughout the 2026-27 campaign. Ryan Odom retained all of his players with eligibility remaining (not counting the fifth-year guys who have been granted eligibility via lawsuits), including 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Thijs De Ridder, the preseason ACC Player of the Year.
No. 6 Michigan State vs. No. 2 Duke, Nov. 10, 7 p.m., ESPN
The annual Champions Classic — hosted by Chicago’s United Center this year — is loaded once again. On paper, Michigan State and Duke are both national title contenders. The Spartans retained five rotational pieces, including All-American Jeremy Fears Jr., a 6-foot-2 junior point guard who led the nation in assists last season. The Blue Devils may have the country’s deepest and most talented roster, with six players ranked in Hoops HQ’s Top 100. This could easily be a matchup that we see in late March or early April.
No. 17 Kansas vs. No. 23 Kentucky, Nov. 10, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
The nightcap of the Champions Classic is packed with compelling storylines. How well will Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2026, perform under the bright lights? Can Bill Self get a win in what could be his last Champions Classic before retiring? Can Kentucky alleviate some of the pressure and outside noise with a big early-season victory? Will Milan Momcilovic, the Wildcats’ high-profile transfer from Iowa State (No. 13 in Hoops HQ’s Top 100), live up to the hype against his former Big 12 nemesis? This one is definitely worth staying up for.
No. 3 Illinois at No. 2 Duke, Nov. 17, 7 p.m., ESPN
The first marquee game at Cameron Indoor Stadium of the 2026-27 season should have the building absolutely rocking. With seven returnees from last year’s Final Four squad, including preseason All-American David Mirkovic, the Illini shouldn’t be as rattled by the raucous environment.
The last time these programs met was on Feb. 22, 2025, when Duke embarrassed Illinois, 110-67, at Madison Square Garden. Assuming the Illini are healthy (a big if, considering Mirkovic was in a walking boot a few days ago), this game should be a lot closer and more competitive. Keep an eye on Duke senior guard John Blackwell, a transfer from Wisconsin who averaged 27.5 points across two outings against Illinois in 2025-26.
No. 6 Michigan State at No. 8 Tennessee, Nov. 17, 9 p.m., ESPN2
Is Rick Barnes’ new-look Tennessee team a legit contender? We’ll get a strong sense one way or the other from this mid-November matchup in Knoxville. The Vols completely overhauled their roster this spring, assembling a star-studded transfer class (No. 3 in the country, per 247Sports) headlined by preseason First Team All-SEC guard Juke Harris. The new group certainly has the talent to compete for an SEC title and make a deep March run, but how will the pieces mesh? If they can pull off this win against Tom Izzo’s proven Michigan State squad, it would be a very promising sign.
No. 4 UConn at No. 5 Arizona, Nov. 18, 9 p.m., FS1
While these juggernauts didn’t meet at the 2026 Final Four, they played a memorable game in Storrs last November, with Arizona eking out a 71-67 victory to silence the rowdy fans at Gampel Pavilion. Now the Huskies have a chance to get some revenge in Tucson. This should be another physical, defensive battle centered around the matchup inside between Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas and UConn’s Najai Hines.
In close games last season, the Wildcats turned to senior point guard Jaden Bradley, who graduated this spring and currently plays for the Toronto Raptors. Can prize recruit Caleb Holt take over that role effectively? This could be the five-star freshman’s first major test.
No. 4 UConn vs. No. 2 Duke, Nov. 25, 7 p.m., TBD
The game of the month will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas the night before Thanksgiving. Seven months ago, UConn stunned Duke in the Elite Eight, erasing a 15-point halftime deficit and winning 73-72 on a 35-foot buzzer beater from Braylon Mullins. Several players who appeared in that unforgettable game will also be suiting up in this one.
Of course, Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils are hungry for revenge, but it won’t come easy. Dan Hurley has another loaded roster with national title potential. Whatever happens, it will be the talk of Thanksgiving meals across the country the following day.
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