The University of Arkansas men's basketball program has locked in two more nonconference opponents for the 2026‑27 campaign, adding Robert Morris and Oral Roberts to a slate that already features a handful of high‑profile road tests.
Homecoming matchups set for early November and early December
Arkansas will open its nonconference slate at Bud Walton Arena on November 10 against the Colonials, before welcoming the Golden Eagles on December 5. Both games mark the second meeting with Robert Morris and the ninth encounter with Oral Roberts, continuing a series that has favored the Razorbacks.
Beyond the home fixtures, the Razorbacks are slated to travel to neutral‑site venues that include a showdown at Madison Square Garden against Indiana on November 17, a trip to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina on December 1, and a desert test against Arizona in Phoenix on December 19.
The schedule also includes home nonconference games against Central Michigan on December 22 and Texas‑Rio Grande Valley on December 29, rounding out a 31‑game calendar that still leaves five nonconference slots open.
Coaching perspectives and historical context
Coach John Calipari reflected on the difficulty of securing a marquee home opponent, noting that the team fell short of that goal despite aggressive planning. Andrew Toole, now in his 17th season at Robert Morris, brings a 1‑2 record against Calipari’s squads, while ORU’s second‑year leader Kory Barnett looks to build on a modest inaugural tenure.
With most of the 2026‑27 slate now defined, Arkansas remains focused on shaping a competitive roster that can translate these nonconference tests into momentum for the SEC season ahead.