Kansas basketball has its television slate in hand for the 2026-27 season, and the release on Tuesday laid out the network assignments and tipoff times for the full year.
The early portion of the schedule is loaded right away. KU’s first public look at the team comes during Late Night on Friday, Oct. 16, when the Jayhawks face Pitt State in an exhibition.
Late Night activities begin at 2 p.m. CT, and the game itself is set for 7 p.m.
CT on ESPN+.
That’s only the first of three exhibition tune-ups on the calendar. Kansas will also take on Louisville and Duke, two programs projected to be among the nation’s best this season.
The Louisville exhibition is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Allen Fieldhouse, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU. A few days later, KU hosts Duke at Allen Fieldhouse on Sunday, Oct. 25, with that game beginning at noon CT on ESPN.
Beyond the exhibition run, Kansas already has several high-profile regular-season dates locked into major national windows. The Champions Classic matchup against Kentucky will air on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. CT on Nov. 10 from the United Center in Chicago.
The Jayhawks’ first game of the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas will also land on ESPN, with KU facing UNLV at 8:30 p.m. CT on Nov. 17.
Big 12 play will bring even more national TV exposure once it starts in early January. Among the games listed on ESPN are Kansas at BYU on Jan.
9, Kansas at Houston on Feb. 1, and Texas Tech at Kansas on Feb. 6.
The complete schedule, including all dates, channels and tipoff times, is available at kuathletics.com.
In Other News...
Curt Cignetti Just Gave Kansas Coaches A Respectful Nod Fans Will Love
Kansas coaches got a little extra validation this week when Indianas offense showed a fourth-and-1 play-action look that felt familiar to anyone who has spent time around the Jayhawks recent playbook. Associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki pointed out the connection, noting that the Hoosiers had leaned on a concept Kansas ran back in 2022, and the detail quickly became a small but meaningful reminder of how ideas can travel through college football.
Curt Cignetti backed up the observation and said Indiana had picked up the play years ago, then talked through how it has shown up in recent games. For Kansas fans, the exchange was less about ownership than recognition, the kind of respectful nod that suggests a clever wrinkle from one sideline can earn a lasting place on another. [Read more 🡒]
Devin Neals NFL Fight Just Took Another Turn
Devin Neals pro career keeps taking an interesting route, and the latest stop came with Washington. The former Kansas running back, a 2025 sixth-round NFL Draft pick, signed with the Commanders practice squad after being released by the Vikings, continuing a stretch that has already included time with the Saints and Minnesota. Neal has not played this season because of injuries, so the new landing spot gives him another chance to get back into the mix and keep his NFL path moving.
Luke Grimm also found a new opportunity after leaving his original situation behind. The former Jayhawks wide receiver was added to the Chargers practice squad after being waived with an injury settlement, another reminder of how many Kansas alumni are trying to carve out roles at the next level. For Jayhawks fans, its a familiar kind of update: more movement, more roster churn, and still the hope that these names can turn practice-squad chances into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Has No Room For Errors In Another Huge K-State Test
Kansas is heading into another Sunflower Showdown with a little more pressure than usual, and not much margin for error. The Jayhawks and Kansas State both enter with losing Big 12 records, which only sharpens the stakes for a rivalry game that already carries its own weight. Kansas will have to handle the road environment at Bill Snyder Family Stadium while trying to steady a season that still needs a clear signature win.
The bigger storyline, of course, is the long skid against the Wildcats. Kansas has dropped 17 straight in the series, a streak that hangs over this meeting no matter how much the records say both teams are searching for answers. With Fox Sports One carrying the game, the Jayhawks get another chance to change the tone of this rivalry and, at minimum, keep the pressure squarely on a Kansas State team that has not separated itself much in league play either. [Read more 🡒]