The 2026 Champions Classic brings Kansas and Kentucky together Tuesday night, and both teams enter with a chance to move to 3-0. The matchup puts No.
15 Kansas against No. 24 Kentucky in a neutral-site game in Chicago, with the Jayhawks listed as the favorite.
Kansas has opened the season with two comfortable wins over Middle Tennessee, winning by 44 and then by 30. Bill Self’s group has looked deep and balanced early, with freshman Tyran Stokes headlining the roster after choosing the Jayhawks over Kentucky. Kansas also has plenty of veteran help around him in Trey Kauffman-Renn, Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White, giving this team a real chance to make noise in the Big 12 even after losing top-two pick Darryn Peterson in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Stokes is the player to watch here, and the setting makes it even better. The Louisville native is facing one of his hometown teams in only his third college game after solid starts against Fordham and Middle Tennessee.
He’s averaging 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from 3. With Kansas cruising in its first two games, he has only played 23.0 minutes per contest, but that should change against a ranked opponent.
Kentucky comes in at No. 24 and is still trying to find its footing after a major roster overhaul. Mark Pope’s team barely got past James Madison, 89-80, in its second game, and that performance didn’t exactly scream powerhouse.
Milan Momcilovic and Zoom Diallo have been the early leaders for a Wildcats squad that changed a lot from last season, when it was knocked out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky did reach the Sweet 16 in Pope’s first season, but it is not viewed as one of the top national title threats this year.
The numbers also lean Kansas’ way. The Jayhawks are No. 15 in the AP poll, but KenPom has them at No. 5, with the No. 9 offensive efficiency and No. 3 defensive efficiency after two games.
Kentucky, meanwhile, sits 29th in KenPom and ranks 72nd nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Wildcats have already shown some defensive issues against lesser competition, and that’s a problem heading into what should be the toughest test either team has seen so far.
Kansas has the higher ceiling, and the combination of Stokes, Kauffman-Renn and White gives Self a roster that looks more settled right now. Kentucky has too much turnover and hasn’t been sharp enough on defense to convince me it can pull off the upset Tuesday night.
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Kentucky Faces Its First Real Test Against A Title Contender
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For Kentucky, the formula starts with making shots from deep and keeping Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes from taking over the game. The Wildcats will also need meaningful production from newcomers Alex Wilkins and Zoom Diallo, two players whose early-season contributions could matter even more against a team with Kansas size, talent and edge. [Read more 🡒]