Kentucky’s 2026-27 non-conference schedule is almost wrapped up, and the last regular-season addition appears to be a familiar one: Wichita State.
Rocco Miller reported Thursday morning that the Wildcats and Shockers have an agreement for Wichita State to visit Rupp Arena. A date hasn’t been locked in yet, but Thanksgiving week has an open spot that could be the landing place for the game.
It will be the first regular-season meeting between the programs. Their history, though, already has some juice.
Kentucky and Wichita State have crossed paths twice before, both times in the NCAA tournament. The first came in 2014, when the 8-seed Wildcats stunned the unbeaten 1-seed Shockers, who were sitting at 35-0 and chasing history. John Calipari’s Kentucky team, led by Julius Randle, the Harrison twins, James Young, and others, handed Wichita State its first loss in the round of 32 and kicked off a memorable tournament run of its own.
They met again in 2017, once more in the round of 32. That Kentucky team featured De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Bam Adebayo, and the Wildcats came away with another win, 65-62, over the 10-seed Shockers.
Wichita State is a different program than it was in those matchups. Gregg Marshall was on the sideline for those tournament runs, but he’s been gone for six years.
Paul Mills is now in charge and entering his fourth season. The Shockers still haven’t reached the NCAA tournament under Mills, though they’ve made NIT appearances the past couple of years.
The trajectory has been positive: 15-19 in his first season, 19-15 in his second, and 24-12 last year.
With Wichita State expected to join the list, Kentucky’s non-conference slate now includes:
Little Rock (EXH) on Friday, October 16 (Rupp Arena)
Manhattan on Tuesday, November 3 (Rupp Arena)
James Madison on Friday, November 6 (Rupp Arena)
Kansas on Tuesday, November 10 in Chicago (Champions Classic/United Center)
Northern Arizona on Friday, November 13 (Rupp Arena)
Grambling State on Monday, November 16 (Rupp Arena)
Indiana on Friday, November 20 in Indianapolis (Lucas Oil Stadium)
Virginia on Wednesday, December 2 in Charlottesville (ACC/SEC Challenge/John Paul Jones Arena)
Appalachian State on Saturday, December 5 (Rupp Arena)
Bryant on Tuesday, December 8 (Rupp Arena)
Louisville on Saturday, December 12 (Rupp Arena)
North Carolina on Saturday, December 19 in New York City (CBS Sports Classic/Madison Square Garden)
Sacred Heart on Tuesday, December 22 (Rupp Arena)
In Other News...
Kentuckys Linebacker Situation Just Took A Turn Fans Need To Watch
Kentuckys linebacker room got a notable update this week when Will Stein said Antonio OBerry has exhausted his eligibility and will not play this season. The news narrows the defensive options at a position where depth always matters, especially as teams try to settle roles and build continuity heading into the stretch run of camp and into the fall.
Alex Afari Jr. offers a possible boost, though his situation is still in flux. He has rejoined the Wildcats and is back at practice while waiting on NCAA clarification about whether he can play a potential fifth season, after spending four years at Kentucky and taking part in an NFL rookie minicamp without signing with a team. For Kentucky, it leaves one spot clearly closed and another still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Works Is Giving Kentucky Fans A New Defensive Reason To Watch
Cedric CJ Works has started to emerge as one of the more intriguing pieces of Kentuckys defense, and not just because he got on the field in every game last season. With the Wildcats installing a more aggressive scheme under new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, the sophomore is expected to take on the JACK role, a spot that asks for speed, edge pressure and enough versatility to bother offenses in a few different ways. It is the kind of assignment that can put a young defender on the radar quickly if the talent matches the opportunity.
Defensive line coach Anwar Stewart has already raised the ceiling talk by comparing Works to former Kentucky standout Josh Allen, which is the sort of praise that naturally gets attention in Lexington. Works, for his part, sounds eager for the challenge and believes the new system can help him take a step forward, even while acknowledging he still has plenty of room to develop. For a Kentucky defense looking for new playmakers, that combination of opportunity, confidence and upside is worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Defense Gets A Mixed Update Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Kentuckys defense got a mixed early-week update as Will Stein sorted through two familiar names with very different short-term paths. Transfer edge rusher Antonio OBerry will not be available after the NCAA ruled him ineligible because he has already completed five seasons of college football, trimming one option from the Wildcats pass-rush plans before he ever got a chance to settle in.
There was better news for former linebacker Alex Afari, who has been cleared to practice with the team as Kentucky waits on his competition status. Afari was a significant part of the Wildcats defense before, so even the possibility of getting him back into games would matter, but for now the final piece of that return still hangs in the balance. [Read more 🡒]