Kansas Basketball’s Non-Conference Gauntlet: Blue Blood Battles, Rivalry Showdowns, and a Vegas Test Await the Jayhawks in 2025–26
The Kansas Jayhawks are no strangers to pressure. They’ve built a legacy on excellence, grit, and championship aspirations. But as the 2025–26 season approaches, head coach Bill Self and his team are preparing to walk through fire before they even begin the Big 12 grind. The Jayhawks’ non-conference schedule isn’t just tough—it’s a tour of college basketball’s most iconic arenas, rivalries, and powerhouses.
A Blue Blood Warpath
It all kicks off on Monday, November 3, when the Jayhawks open the regular season against Green Bay. But the true baptism by fire begins just four days later, when Kansas heads to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina in the storied Dean Smith Center on November 7. The Tar Heels, another proud member of the sport’s blue blood elite, will provide one of the earliest and most hostile tests for Kansas’ title hopes.
From there, the schedule only intensifies.
On November 18, Kansas travels to Madison Square Garden for the Champions Classic—a marquee college basketball event that annually showcases elite programs. This year, KU will battle Duke, a clash of titans that promises high drama under the bright lights of New York City.
Then comes Thanksgiving week in Las Vegas, where the Jayhawks will compete in the Players Era Tournament, a multi-day competition running from November 24–27. While full details are yet to be announced, the tournament is expected to feature some of the sport’s best talent and could serve as a preview of March Madness-level intensity.
UConn, Missouri, and More
December begins with a bang. On December 2, the Jayhawks welcome UConn to Allen Fieldhouse, continuing their home-and-home series with the reigning basketball powerhouse from the Big East. Just five days later, Kansas faces its bitter Border War rival Missouri on December 7 in Kansas City—a matchup that’s as fierce in emotion as it is in talent.
Rounding out the stretch is a trip to NC State on December 13, a matchup that adds another major-conference test to an already loaded slate.
Coach Self Sets the Tone
In a statement released by the university, Coach Bill Self didn’t shy away from what this schedule represents.
“Once again we have a non-conference schedule that should be one of the most challenging non-conference schedules that anyone will play,” Self said. “Those, along with the Big 12 competition, make this a very tough and demanding schedule. Our non-conference slate should certainly prepare us for what will be considered another great Big 12 season.”
With high-caliber matchups against UNC, Duke, UConn, and Missouri, not to mention the potential gauntlet in Las Vegas, Kansas will be battle-tested long before the conference race heats up.
The Full Non-Conference Slate at a Glance
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Oct. 24 (Fri.) – at Louisville (Exhibition)
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Oct. 28 (Tue.) – Fort Hays State (Exhibition)
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Nov. 3 (Mon.) – Green Bay
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Nov. 7 (Fri.) – at North Carolina
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Nov. 11 (Tue.) – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
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Nov. 15 (Sat.) – Princeton
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Nov. 18 (Tue.) – vs. Duke (Champions Classic, New York City)
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Nov. 24–27 (Mon.–Thurs.) – Players Era Tournament (Las Vegas)
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Dec. 2 (Tue.) – UConn
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Dec. 7 (Sun.) – vs. Missouri (Kansas City, Mo.)
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Dec. 13 (Sat.) – at NC State
Final Thoughts
Kansas isn’t just preparing for another strong season. They’re building a gauntlet, one that’s designed to sharpen their edge before the battle for the Big 12 begins. Every game in this non-conference schedule has meaning—whether it’s legacy, rivalry, resume, or revenge.
If the Jayhawks survive this stretch with their confidence and chemistry intact, don’t be surprised to see them sitting atop the national rankings—and surging toward another Final Four run.
Stay tuned, because Kansas is about to light up college basketball’s biggest stages.
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