A closer look at Kansas men’s basketball’s non-conference schedule for 2026-27
A matchup against fellow blue blood Kentucky in the Champions Classic and Border War battle with Missouri in Kansas City highlight the non-conference portion of the Kansas Jayhawks’ 2026-27 men’s basketball schedule.
Kansas starts the regular season by hosting Fordham on Monday, Nov. 2. A few days later, KU will host Middle Tennessee State on Friday, Nov. 6. Then, KU heads on the road to face Kentucky on Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Champions Classic in Chicago.
After that matchup, KU plays in the Players Era Tournament from Nov. 17-19. Kansas will play UNLV on Tuesday, Nov. 17, then either Auburn or West Virginia the following day on Nov. 18. Kansas’ Day 3 opponent will be either Florida, Notre Dame, Houston or Rutgers on Nov. 19.
Then, the Jayhawks head home for Thanksgiving week. Kansas hosts Denver on Monday, Nov. 23, then Villanova on Friday, Nov. 27. KU wraps up the homestand by hosting Northern Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Then, KU plays rival Missouri in another iteration of the Border War at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Sunday, Dec. 6. After that, Kansas will travel to play UConn on Saturday, Dec. 12.
A week later, on Saturday, Dec. 19, the Jayhawks play Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Finally, the Jayhawks close out non-conference play with a homestand against Indiana State on Tuesday, Dec. 22, and New Orleans on Dec. 29.
- Nov. 2 (Monday) – Fordham
- Nov. 6 (Friday) – Middle Tennessee State
- Nov. 10 (Tuesday) – vs. Kentucky (Champions Classic, Chicago)
- Nov. 17 (Tuesday) – vs. UNLV (Players ERA 8, Las Vegas)
- Nov. 18 (Wednesday) – vs. Auburn or West Virginia (Players ERA 8, Las Vegas)
- Nov. 19 (Thursday) – vs. Florida, Notre Dame, Houston, Rutgers (Players ERA 8, Las Vegas)
- Nov. 23 (Monday) – Denver
- Nov. 27 (Friday) – Villanova
- Dec. 1 (Tuesday) – Northern Iowa
- Dec. 6 (Sunday) – vs. Missouri (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Dec. 12 (Saturday) – at UConn
- Dec. 19 (Saturday) – vs. Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic, New York City)
- Dec. 22 (Tuesday) – Indiana State
- Dec. 29 (Tuesday) – New Orleans
