The college basketball world is buzzing as two of the sport’s perennial powers, Villanova and Kansas, announce a home‑and‑home series that will kick off in the 2026‑27 season.
A renewed rivalry on the horizon
The opening clash is slated for November 27, 2026, inside the storied Allen Field House in Lawrence, Kansas, where the Wildcats will travel to face the Jayhawks.
The agreement guarantees a return meeting in the 2027‑28 campaign, when Villanova will host the rematch on its own campus, completing a two‑year home‑and‑home arrangement.
Villanova’s broader non‑conference slate promises a test of mettle, beginning with a highly anticipated showdown against Notre Dame in Rome before confronting Michigan, Pittsburgh, and Wisconsin throughout the season.
The Wildcats enter the campaign with a blend of experience and fresh talent. Returning starters Tyler Perkins and Matt Hodge will be joined by newcomers Kwame Evans, Devin Royal, Elijah Crawford, Darryl Simmons and Jake Fiegen, all of whom are expected to shape the team’s dynamics.
Having split their last ten meetings, with each program claiming five victories, the series sits at a perfect 5‑5 deadlock. The most recent encounter in the 2018 NCAA Final Four saw Villanova triumph, while Kansas avenged the loss two years later in the 2022 Final Four.
Fans on both sides are already marking calendars, anticipating a series that could add another chapter to the storied histories of two programs that have consistently ranked among the nation’s elite.