Memphis Locks In 2026‑27 Non‑Conference Clash with Little Rock
Memphis basketball will host Little Rock on December 22, 2026, inside the iconic FedExForum, marking the latest chapter of a rivalry that has favored the Tigers for more than three decades.
The Tigers hold a perfect 9‑0 record against the Trojans since the 1993‑94 season, a streak that includes three victories under the guidance of Coach Penny Hardaway, who has shaped the program’s non‑conference strategy with an eye toward national relevance.
Little Rock’s recent trajectory, however, has taken a different turn. After finishing seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 12‑20 overall record last season and bowing out in the first round of the 2023 OVC tournament, the program announced the dismissal of longtime coach Darrell Walker and the hiring of Travis Ford as the new head coach.
Ford, who previously went head‑to‑head with Hardaway while steering Saint Louis, brings a fresh philosophy to a roster that will look to improve on its 9‑11 conference slate. His debut season will begin with a road test at Memphis, a venue where the Tigers have consistently posted decisive wins.
Beyond the Little Rock matchup, Memphis’s 2026‑27 non‑conference slate features home contests against Louisville, Utah State, VCU, Grand Canyon and Evansville, as well as road trips to Texas, Vanderbilt and Baylor. Neutral‑site games against Iowa State and Dayton are also slated, alongside participation in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas during Thanksgiving week.
Coach Penny Hardaway has described the schedule as a deliberate effort to pit the Tigers against Power‑4 opponents and to fine‑tune a roster that blends veteran talent with emerging prospects. “We’re building a schedule that prepares us for the grind of conference play,” Hardaway said, emphasizing the importance of early‑season challenges.
The upcoming December showdown will therefore serve as both a benchmark of Memphis’s historical dominance and a first test of Ford’s new leadership, setting the tone for a season that promises to be as competitive as it is unpredictable.