As usual, the 2025-26 Kansas basketball schedule is loaded! Bill Self has never shied away from scheduling games against top opponents, and this season will be no different.
This season’s slate will include two true blue bloods, a team KU just lost a key recruit to, the school with the most national championships this century, and, of course, their most loathed rival.
This doesn’t even include the games that will be part of the Players’ Era Festival in Las Vegas in late November.
What are the premier Kansas basketball games you should be excited about in the 2025-26 season?
Though it might not be the biggest game on the schedule, it’s hard not to be giddy to play North Carolina in the Dean Dome. This is part of a home-and-home series, and the Tarheels will visit the Phog next year. These two teams seldom play each other outside of the NCAA Tournament and what could be better than to watch two schools so historically intertwined as these two are.
In the same thread, CBS Sports announced this week that UConn and Kansas will play a home-and-home series, with the Huskies visiting Allen Fieldhouse this season, and the Jayhawks returning the favor next year. UConn may not be officially a blue blood yet, but their six titles since 1999 certainly put them in the conversation.
This game should be a blast to watch. These two schools have won a combined 25 percent of all titles since 1988. That is an incredible number stretched out over a significant timeframe.
North Carolina State may not generate much excitement among casual fans, but the Wolfpack just out-recruited Kansas for Darrion Williams, a transfer previously with Texas Tech. After watching him play in the Big 12, fans will know Williams will make NC State instantly competitive. The Jayhawks would love to make Williams regret his decision to spurn KU.
KU will also face off against Duke in the Champions Classic in Madison Square Garden. As NC State did with Williams, Duke pried Dame Sarr away from Self’s hopeful hands. When Kansas and Duke play in these early-season matchups, it seldom disappoints. It offers a good measuring stick for both schools of where they might stand against top-tier opponents.
Last, but not least, the Jayhawks will seek revenge for the spanking they took in Columbia last season. Missouri won decisively, 76-67, and Kansas would love to earn a win in the T-Mobile Center this year. The Tigers had a nice season last year, going 22-12 overall, 10-8 in the SEC. Like KU, they fell in the first round during March Madness.
This heated rivalry is always a spotlighted game in which the teams’ records coming in won’t matter. No matter the outcome, it’s great for fans when these two teams meet up.
Kansas basketball will face early and frequent tests this season. So many games against quality opponents should prepare the Jayhawks for what they will face in Big 12 play. For fans, these types of games are what get the blood stirring nd, hopefully, KU will come out on top more often than not.
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