Kansas is turning its preseason into something closer to a showcase than a warmup. Before the regular season starts, Bill Self’s team will get Louisville and Duke in Allen Fieldhouse, a setup he thinks makes sense for the Jayhawks, their fans and the long view of the program.
The exhibition stretch begins Oct. 16 with Pittsburg State during the revamped Late Night in the Phog. Then Kansas will host Louisville on Oct. 21 and Duke on Oct. 25 as part of the newly announced Blue Blood Classic, giving the Jayhawks the maximum three preseason exhibitions allowed under NCAA rules.
Self didn’t hide why he liked the arrangement.
"I think if you get a chance to play Duke at home in a unique way that's set up, and then us actually go back to their place next year, I personally think it's great," Self said.
The series will keep going in October 2027, when Kansas heads to Cameron Indoor Stadium. That return game stands out even more because Self has called coaching in Duke’s building a bucket-list experience.
From his perspective, the draw goes beyond the basketball itself. Bringing two of the sport’s biggest names to Lawrence should juice the atmosphere before the results start counting in November.
"I think from a fan standpoint, getting Louisville and Duke at home definitely adds to the attraction of our schedule immediately," Self said.
He also made clear that neither exhibition changes Kansas’ record, but both should give a reshaped roster something useful to chew on.
"Those two games aren't the biggest games on our schedule by any means," Self said. "But the appearance of having them that early in the season, I think people will be pretty amped up to watch them."
Kansas opens the 2026-27 regular season on Nov. 2 against Fordham at Allen Fieldhouse. By then, Self will have already learned plenty from a preseason slate that brings big-name opponents to Lawrence and tests his team before the games officially matter.
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