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Kentucky's Non Conference Schedule is Complete

August 28, 2026
By Robert Proctor
Kentucky basketball non conference schedule

Kentucky Basketball's Non-Conference Schedule Is Complete

The Wildcats will get three exhibition tune-ups before a challenging 2026-27 non-conference slate.

Kentucky basketball's road to the 2026-27 season will begin earlier than usual, with the Wildcats playing three exhibition games at Rupp Arena before the regular season officially tips off.

The schedule gives Mark Pope's team a chance to work through rotations and build chemistry before immediately jumping into a non-conference slate featuring several of college basketball's biggest names.

Three Exhibition Games at Rupp Arena

Little Rock Friday, October 16
Texas Tech Friday, October 23
UCF Wednesday, October 28

Those aren't three meaningless warm-ups, either. Texas Tech and UCF both reached the NCAA Tournament last season, giving Kentucky a pair of legitimate tests before the games begin to count.

Kentucky's Non-Conference Schedule

Nov. 3
Manhattan Rupp Arena
Nov. 6
James Madison Rupp Arena
Nov. 10
Kansas Champions Classic — Chicago
Nov. 13
Northern Arizona Rupp Arena
Nov. 16
Grambling State Rupp Arena
Nov. 20
Indiana Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis
Nov. 27
Wichita State Rupp Arena
Dec. 2
at Virginia SEC/ACC Challenge — Charlottesville
Dec. 5
Appalachian State Rupp Arena
Dec. 8
Bryant Rupp Arena
Dec. 12
Louisville Rupp Arena
Dec. 19
North Carolina Madison Square Garden — New York
Dec. 22
Sacred Heart Rupp Arena
Dec. 28
Gardner-Webb Rupp Arena

Plenty of Marquee Matchups

The headline games jump off the page. Kentucky meets Kansas on November 10 in the Champions Classic, faces Indiana on November 20 in Indianapolis, travels to Virginia on December 2, hosts rival Louisville on December 12, and then meets North Carolina at Madison Square Garden on December 19.

Kentucky will have plenty of opportunities to build a strong résumé before SEC play begins. With three exhibitions followed by a combination of rivalry games, neutral-site showcases and a true road test, Big Blue Nation shouldn't have to wait long to find out just how good this Kentucky team can be.

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