A New Chapter in Non-Conference Play
The Arkansas Razorbacks will open a multi-year series against the Arizona Wildcats, with the first contest scheduled for Dec. 19, 2026, at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
The agreement, part of the Naismith Hall of Fame Series, is designed to span the 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons, and includes a provision for a fourth game in the 2029-30 season that could be played at a neutral site nearer to Arkansas.
The matchup serves as a rematch of the 2026 Sweet 16, where Arizona posted a 109-88 victory, and Arkansas currently holds a 6-3 edge in the all-time series.
Arizona’s roster for the upcoming season will feature transfers Ugnius Jarusevicius, Derek Dixon, JJ Mandaquit and Evan Otten, while the Razorbacks have secured portal additions Cooper Bowser and Jeremiah Wilkinson, complemented by five freshmen commits including Jordan Smith, Abdou Toure, Miikka Muurinen, JJ Andrews and Maper Maker.
Returning players Billy Richmond, Isaiah Sealy and Paulo Semedo will anchor Arkansas’s lineup, even as forwards Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle have exhausted their eligibility and Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff remain in the NBA Draft.
The schedule also includes a Thanksgiving showdown with Michigan State in Detroit, adding another high-profile non-conference test for both programs.
Looking Ahead
With both squads still shaping their lineups, the upcoming series promises to be a litmus test for new transfers and fresh talent, and could set the tone for each team’s national ambitions.