The University of Kentucky and Gonzaga University announced on Tuesday that they have mutually decided to terminate the remaining two games of their men’s basketball series, which was originally slated to run for six seasons.
A cross‑country rivalry
The agreement ends a partnership that began in the 2022‑23 season, when the first meeting took place in Spokane, Washington. Over the ensuing years the two programs traveled to Lexington, Nashville, and Seattle, turning each contest into a marquee nonconference attraction for fans and television partners.
The most recent showdown, held in Nashville last March, ended in a 94‑59 victory for the Bulldogs, marking the Wildcats’ largest margin of defeat in more than three decades. That result added to the intrigue surrounding the series and underscored the competitive balance that had developed.
Both schools said the decision was driven by a desire to reassess their overall scheduling strategies, including conference commitments and other nonconference opportunities that may better serve their respective fan bases and competitive goals.
University of Kentucky officials indicated that a detailed outline of the Wildcats’ 2026‑27 slate will be released in the coming weeks, providing further clarity on the path forward.