Memphis basketball and Louisville have agreed to a six-year series, renewing one of the more storied rivalries in program history.
The Tigers made the announcement May 8.
The first game of the series is set for Dec. 13, 2025, at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, while the second game will be played at FedExForum during the 2026-27 season. Specific dates and locations for the remaining four games have not yet been set.
“Renewing this rivalry with Louisville means everything − not just for Memphis, but for college basketball as a whole,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said in a press release. “These are the kinds of games that bring out the best in both programs, energize fan bases and are the reason players want to come to Memphis. There’s real history and passion between us and we are thrilled to help bring it back and give our fans − and the sport − something special to look forward to the next six years.”
Memphis and Louisville have not met in men’s basketball since Dec. 16, 2017, when they faced off in the Gotham Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The Tigers and Cardinals, former conference mates across four different leagues (Missouri Valley, Metro, Conference USA and AAC) have faced off 90 times. Louisville holds a 54-36 edge all-time.
Memphis already has several non-conference games set for the 2025-26 season, including two neutral-site games at the Baha Mar Hoops Challenge (Nov. 20-21, Nassau, Bahamas), home games against UNLV (Nov. 16), San Francisco (Nov. 8) and New Orleans at FedExForum, as well as road games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State (Dec. 20).
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