The University of Arkansas men’s basketball program has finalized a demanding preseason slate that will see the Razorbacks open the 2026‑27 campaign with a home exhibition against Memphis on October 28 at Bud Walton Arena.
It will mark the second straight year the two teams meet in an exhibition, a series that began with a 99‑75 victory for the Tigers in Memphis last October.
Neutral‑Site Tests and ACC‑SEC Challenge
Coach John Calipari, now in his ninth season with the program, has also arranged a preseason clash with Gonzaga, while the schedule includes neutral‑site tests against Indiana at Madison Square Garden, Michigan State in Detroit and Arizona in Phoenix.
In addition to those marquee matchups, Arkansas is slated to host Robert Morris on Nov. 10, Central Arkansas on Nov. 13, Oral Roberts on Dec. 5, Central Michigan on Dec. 22 and Texas‑Rio Grande Valley on Dec. 29, bringing the total number of confirmed nonconference games to nine, with a dozen more expected before the regular season begins.
The Razorbacks will also travel to Chapel Hill for the SEC‑ACC Challenge, where they will meet North Carolina at the Dean Smith Center on Dec. 1, adding another high‑profile opponent to the mix.
Memphis, under ninth‑year head coach Penny Hardaway, returns a core that includes William Whorton and Julius Thedford, while adding several portal acquisitions, setting the stage for a competitive exhibition.
The upcoming schedule not only provides valuable preparation for the rigors of SEC play but also offers fans a chance to see the team’s new‑look roster in action before the regular season kicks off.