John Calipari, the architect of Arkansas’ men’s basketball program, revealed this week that the Razorbacks will embark on a three‑game preseason exhibition schedule ahead of the 2026‑27 campaign, a shift made possible by the NCAA’s recent decision to permit three such contests.
Exhibition Games Set the Tone
The lineup features a home clash with Gonzaga, a road test against the Kansas Jayhawks and a showdown with the Memphis Tigers, while the broader nonconference slate also includes meetings with Michigan State, North Carolina, Arizona and a handful of other opponents.
Calipari noted that the Kansas game will be played on the road, continuing a pattern of challenging the team in hostile environments, and he recalled the Razorbacks’ 85‑69 victory over the Jayhawks in Fayetteville last season, a win that preceded a 79‑72 triumph in the NCAA Tournament.
The schedule also reflects logistical adjustments, such as the relocation of the Michigan State contest to Detroit on Thanksgiving, and a neutral‑site game slated for early November in a “nice arena, nice city,” according to the coach.
Arkansas will open its regular season with a series of road and home fixtures, including a November 17 appearance at Madison Square Garden to face Indiana, a December 1 trip to Chapel Hill, and a December 19 showdown in Phoenix against Arizona, rounding out a 13‑game nonconference slate.
Beyond the exhibition games, the new rule allows the Razorbacks to fine‑tune their roster and chemistry against elite competition, a strategic move that could shape their NCAA Tournament aspirations.