Kentucky’s nonconference slate will test Pope, Wildcats early

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats will be truly battle-tested in the 2025-26 season, as their nonconference schedule is expected to rank among the most difficult in the country. High-profile matchups with Purdue (exhibition), St. John’s, Louisville, Michigan State, Indiana and Gonzaga are already on the slate.

As it stands, Kentucky is preparing to face arguably the nation’s toughest nonconference lineup—a challenge Pope appears to have welcomed. One question remains: Who might the Wildcats host in the SEC/ACC Challenge after traveling to Clemson last season?

Here are some potential Atlantic Coast Conference opponents who could visit Rupp Arena and add even more firepower and excitement to Kentucky’s already loaded schedule.

Duke or North Carolina

Off the top, Big Blue Nation would relish the chance to host either Duke or North Carolina. A true blue blood hasn’t visited Rupp Arena since Kansas earned a 77–68 win in January of 2023.

Last season, Pope shocked the college basketball world with a 77–72 victory over No. 3 Duke in the Champions Classic, delivering one of BBN’s most memorable nights in recent years. That game, however, took place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta; Catlanta if you will.

Incredibly, Duke has never played a regular-season game at Rupp Arena. The Blue Devils haven’t faced Kentucky in Lexington since their 55–54 win in the 1980 NCAA Tournament regional semifinals. Their last visit for a regular-season contest was in 1969 at Memorial Coliseum, where Kentucky won during the early-season Kentucky Invitational Tournament. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 13–11.

With Jon Scheyer’s squad again projected to be among the nation’s elite, a Duke-Kentucky clash at Rupp would be one of the most anticipated games in college basketball next season.

North Carolina, meanwhile, isn’t drawing as much preseason hype. Despite reportedly spending more than $14 million on its roster, the Tar Heels have built a lineup many analysts consider underwhelming. Head coach Hubert Davis is entering the season squarely on the hot seat.

Still, Carolina is Carolina. Even amid recent inconsistency, the Tar Heels remain one of the sport’s premier brands, and their presence in Lexington would electrify Rupp Arena. UNC hasn’t played at Rupp since 2014-15. Before that, at Rupp Arena, it was Kentucky’s 73–72 win in December 2011, capped by Anthony Davis’ iconic late-game block. That Wildcats team went on to win the national title. Could history repeat itself?

NC State

The 2025–26 season is shaping up to be one of NC State’s most exciting in recent memory. Just two years removed from a Final Four run, the Wolfpack are reloading, not rebuilding, under new head coach Will Wade.

Wade, who made headlines declaring he wouldn’t be undergoing a rebuild, made an aggressive push in the transfer portal. Key additions include All-Big 12 honoree Darrion Williams, former Tar Heel Ven-Allen Lubin, Houston’s Terrance Arceneaux, Michigan State’s Tre Holloman and McNeese State’s Quadir Copeland.

“We’re going to have a damn good roster,” Wade told Inside Pack Sports last month.

NC State looks poised to challenge Duke and Louisville atop the ACC, and a trip to Rupp Arena would offer an early proving ground for a hungry fanbase and a fiery first-year head coach. Big Blue Nation would surely embrace the matchup.

Virginia

Throughout the 2010s, Virginia stood atop the ACC. Under Tony Bennett, the Cavaliers won six regular-season titles, two ACC tournament crowns and the 2019 NCAA championship—still the ACC’s most recent national title.

But the program has since hit a rough patch. With Bennett’s unexpected retirement just days before the 2024–25 season, UVA stumbled to a 15–17 finish under interim head coach Ron Sanchez.

Enter Ryan Odom.

Odom made history in 2018 when his UMBC team shocked the basketball world, defeating top-seeded Virginia 74–54—the first-ever win by a No. 16 seed over a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history. Ironically, Odom grew up as a ball boy for the Cavaliers in the 1980s while his father, Dave Odom, was an assistant coach in Charlottesville.

Having coached at UMBC and VCU, Odom now returns to Virginia in a true full-circle moment. And in today’s transfer portal era, rapid turnarounds are possible. His roster is already considered above average in ACC circles, with hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament in Year 1.

For Kentucky, that means the possibility of hosting a solid, well-coached team with a new leader who has deep ties to his program. Add in the fact that Virginia borders Kentucky, and the appeal to Big Blue Nation is clear.

Syracuse

Syracuse is coming off four consecutive seasons without an NCAA Tournament bid, the program’s longest drought in 50 years. Head coach Adrian Autry enters the 2025–26 season on arguably the hottest seat in college basketball.

Still, Syracuse remains a notable brand in the sport, and the Orange could be an intriguing draw for Rupp Arena. Their incoming recruiting class has potential, and the combination of desperation and tradition could result in fireworks.

Who knows? Maybe Carmelo Anthony shows up in the stands.

Kentucky’s 2025–26 Nonconference Schedule (As of June 9)

• Oct. 24: vs. Purdue | Rupp Arena (Exhibition)
• Nov. 18: vs. Michigan State | Champions Classic (New York)
• Dec. 5: vs. Gonzaga | Nashville
• Dec. 13: vs. Indiana | Rupp Arena
• Dec. 20: vs. St. John’s | CBS Sports Classic (Atlanta)
• Dec. 23: vs. Bellarmine | Rupp Arena
• TBD: at Louisville
• TBD: SEC/ACC Challenge | Rupp Arena
• TBD: vs. North Carolina Central | Rupp Arena