A loaded non‑conference slate
Louisville will open the 2026‑27 campaign at the KFC Yum! Center with back‑to‑back home games against Chattanooga on November 2 and Morehead State on November 7, a matchup that will also see both opponents receive a $100,000 guarantee.
Coach Pat Kelsey, now in his third year, will rely on a transfer class that tops national rankings, highlighted by former Kansas forward Flory Bidunga and Oregon point guard Jackson Shelstad, while the roster also retains two returning players.
The Cardinals’ non‑conference agenda extends beyond the opening week, featuring contests against Baylor, Cincinnati, Kentucky and Memphis, with the games versus Baylor and Cincinnati scheduled at neutral sites, including a stop at Freedom Hall for the Cincinnati matchup.
In addition, Louisville will compete in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, where they are slated to face Texas Tech in the first round and could meet either Oregon or St. John’s in a potential second‑round clash, with a championship game possible on November 28.
The schedule also includes an ACC/SEC Challenge game against Texas on December 1, rounding out a demanding non‑conference slate that tests the team’s depth and prepares it for conference play.