The college basketball season is underway. Here are our top 10 must-watch non-conference games of the 2025-26 season for you. While conference play won’t heat up until January, the non-conference slate is stacked with marquee matchups that will shape résumés, seed lines, and our March Madness brackets. From blue-blood clashes to mid-major statement games, here are the 10 games you can’t miss before New Year’s. We include the dates, tip-off times, TV networks, early betting lines, and a printable schedule for you at the bottom of the article to follow the games.
Top 10 Must-Watch Non-Conference Games
Here are the top 10 must-watch non-conference games for you for men’s college basketball. There are a ton of other great games out there, and we have the men’s college basketball schedules posted up here for you to checkout too. You can see from the early March Madness 2026 odds, that many of these games will have a big impact on where teams sit come spring time.
1. #1 Kansas vs. #2 Duke
Date: November 12, 2025 | Time: 9:00 PM ET | Network: ESPN
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas (Champions Classic)
Early Line: Duke -2.5 (FanDuel)
Why Watch? The nation’s top two recruiting classes collide. Kansas’ five-star trio of Flory Bidunga, Darryn Peterson, and Rakease Passmore vs. Duke’s Boozer twins and Cooper Flagg’s little brother Ace. A potential Final Four preview, plus its Kansas vs Duke.
2. #3 Gonzaga vs. #5 UConn
Date: December 13, 2025 | Time: 10:00 PM ET | Network: FOX
Location: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
Early Line: UConn -1.5
Why Watch? Two of the last five national champs square off. Gonzaga returns 90% of its scoring; UConn reloads with Aidan McCool and top transfer Liam McNeeley. Expect 160+ total points.
3. #4 Purdue vs. #6 Alabama
Date: November 25, 2025 | Time: 7:30 PM ET | Network: ESPN2
Location: Players Era Festival, Las Vegas
Early Line: Purdue -3
Why Watch? Braden Smith vs. Mark Sears in a guard duel for the ages. Purdue’s portal haul (Trey Kaufman-Renn + transfers) meets Bama’s up-tempo chaos. First real test for both.
4. Kentucky vs. North Carolina
Date: December 6, 2025 | Time: 5:15 PM ET | Network: CBS
Location: Madison Square Garden (CBS Sports Classic)
Early Line: UNC -1
Why Watch? John Calipari’s Arkansas debut was last year—this is Mark Pope’s first big stage at Rupp North. UNC’s Elliot Cadeau vs. Kentucky’s new backcourt. Tobacco Road vs. Big Blue Nation in NYC.
5. Houston vs. Auburn
Date: November 19, 2025 | Time: 8:00 PM ET | Network: ESPN
Location: Toyota Center, Houston
Early Line: Houston -4.5
Why Watch? The 2025 runner-up Cougars host Johni Broome and an Auburn squad that returned its entire frontcourt. Physicality meter: off the charts.
6. Michigan vs. Michigan State (in Detroit)
Date: December 17, 2025 | Time: 7:00 PM ET | Network: Peacock
Location: Little Caesars Arena
Early Line: MSU -2
Why Watch? Dusty May’s Wolverines (with Vlad Goldin + transfers) vs. Tom Izzo’s veteran Spartans. In-state rivalry, neutral site, just a great game.
7. San Diego State vs. Creighton
Date: November 28, 2025 | Time: 4:00 PM ET | Network: FS1
Location: Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls (Thanksgiving Week Showcase)
Early Line: Creighton -3
Why Watch? Brian Dutcher’s defensive machine vs. Greg McDermott’s offensive juggernaut. A mid-major vs. high-major clash that screams First Four upset potential.
8. Arkansas vs. Illinois
Date: November 27, 2025 | Time: 6:00 PM ET | Network: ESPN
Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City
Early Line: Illinois -1
Why Watch? Calipari’s Razorbacks (with Zvonimir Ivišić + Johnell Davis) face Brad Underwood’s reloaded Illini. SEC-Big Ten crossover with tournament implications.
9. BYU vs. Arizona
Date: December 20, 2025 | Time: 4:00 PM ET | Network: ESPN2
Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix
Early Line: Arizona -5
Why Watch? Kevin Young’s Wildcats debut at home vs. BYU’s AJ Dybantsa (No. 1 freshman). Big 12 preview with NBA talent everywhere.
10. St. John’s vs. Baylor
Date: February 3, 2026 | Time: 9:00 PM ET | Network: FS1
Location: Madison Square Garden
Early Line: Baylor -2.5
Why Watch? Rick Pitino’s Red Storm (with Kadary Richmond + Deivon Smith) host Scott Drew’s Bears in a late non-con that could swing at-large bids. Yes, it’s after Jan 1—but it’s too good to skip.
2025-26 Top Ten Non-Conference Men’s Basketball Games TV Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Network |
| 1. #1 Kansas vs. #2 Duke | November 12, 2025 | 9:00 PM | ESPN |
| 2. #3 Gonzaga vs. #5 UConn | December 13, 2025 | 10:00 PM | FOX |
| 3. #4 Purdue vs. #6 Alabama | November 25, 2025 | 7:30 PM | ESPN2 |
| 4. Kentucky vs. North Carolina | December 6, 2025 | 5:15 PM | CBS |
| 5. Houston vs. Auburn | November 19, 2025 | 8:00 PM | ESPN |
| 6. Michigan vs. Michigan State (in Detroit) | December 17, 2025 | 7:00 PM | Peacock |
| 7. San Diego State vs. Creighton | November 28, 2025 | 4:00 PM | FS1 |
| 8. Arkansas vs. Illinois | November 27, 2025 | 6:00 PM | ESPN |
| 9. BYU vs. Arizona | December 20, 2025 | 4:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 10. St. John’s vs. Baylor | February 3, 2026 | 9:00 PM | FS1 |
Printable Schedule: Top 10 Non-Conference Games
Here’s the printable schedule for the top 10 non-conference games for you. The schedule can be printed or saved to PDF format too. If you are looking for the 2026 March Madness schedule or the printable 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket, we have those posted up for you as well.
