A Milestone Series
Kansas and Villanova have agreed to a home‑and‑home series that will kick off in the 2026‑27 season. The opening contest is slated for Nov. 27, 2026, inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, before the teams reconvene in Villanova, Pennsylvania, the following November. The arrangement was confirmed as part of a broader slate that also features games against Kentucky, Ohio State and other national powerhouses.
The series adds another chapter to a rivalry that dates back to 1968 and includes a 5‑5 overall record. Both programs have met ten times, with four of those encounters occurring in the NCAA Tournament, including two Final Four showdowns in 2018 and 2022. Kansas holds a slight edge in recent meetings, having won the last two matchups en route to national championships in 2008 and 2022.
Bill Self, Kansas head coach, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming series, noting that the competition will serve as valuable preparation for the rigors of Big 12 play. Self’s comments underscore the strategic intent of scheduling high‑profile opponents early in the season, a approach that has become a hallmark of the Jayhawks’ non‑conference planning.
Beyond the Villanova series, Kansas’s 2026‑27 schedule includes a Nov. 10 showdown with Kentucky in the Champions Classic in Chicago, a Nov. 16 appearance in the Players Era 8 in Las Vegas, and a Dec. 19 clash with Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic in New York City. These games collectively aim to test the team against elite competition while sharpening its profile heading into conference play.
Both Kansas and Villanova belong to an exclusive group of schools that have captured three or more men’s basketball national titles, boasting a combined seven championships. The renewed series not only rekindles a historic rivalry but also reinforces the narrative of two programs that consistently contend at the highest level of college basketball.