Hall of Fame Series
The University of Arkansas and the University of Arizona will open a multi-year basketball series on December 19, 2026, at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The agreement, part of the Naismith Hall of Fame Series, is designed to pit two of the nation’s most storied programs against each other on a recurring basis.
The arrangement calls for additional contests in the 2027‑28 and 2028‑29 seasons, with a possible fourth meeting in 2029‑30 at a neutral site closer to Fayetteville. Arkansas currently holds a 6‑3 edge in the all‑time series, and the first game will serve as a rematch of their 2026 Sweet 16 encounter, which the Wildcats won 109‑88.
Both squads will arrive with reshaped rosters. Arizona will lean on returning contributors Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, while adding transfers Ugnius Jarusevicius, Derek Dixon, JJ Mandaquit and Evan Otten. Arkansas will counter with a blend of holdovers Billy Richmond, Isaiah Sealy and Paulo Semedo, plus portal acquisitions Cooper Bowser and Jeremiah Wilkinson, and a freshman class that includes Jordan Smith, Abdou Toure, Miikka Muurinen, JJ Andrews and Maper Maker.
The series will also feature a Thanksgiving showdown between Arkansas and Michigan State in Detroit, while Arizona’s new‑look lineup is expected to be among the most competitive in the nation. The Wildcats’ recent draft decisions, including the NBA‑bound status of Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, Meleek Thomas and Darius Acuff, add another layer of intrigue to the upcoming matchups.
Beyond the Arizona series, Arkansas is slated to meet SMU in a doubleheader that includes a game at Bud Walton Arena during the 2027‑28 season, and the Razorbacks will also travel to face Central Michigan, Idaho State, the University of North Carolina, the University of Washington and other opponents. The schedule underscores a busy period for the program as it builds toward the next season.