Kentucky now has the full outline of its 2026-27 SEC grind, and the league’s latest release puts a few marquee dates in sharp focus.
The biggest one for Wildcats fans comes Feb. 20, when Arkansas and former Kentucky coach John Calipari come to Rupp Arena. It’s the lone regular-season meeting between the programs that season, and it lands in the middle of a conference schedule that also includes a third matchup with Calipari since his move to Arkansas.
Kentucky opens SEC play on the road Jan. 2 at Oklahoma, then closes the league slate March 6 at Florida. That trip to the Sunshine State comes against a Gators team that is considered one of the leading contenders for the national championship in 2026-27.
The SEC announced the conference dates Monday, July 27. Tipoff times and television details will be set later.
Before league play begins, Kentucky’s nonconference calendar is packed with high-profile tests and familiar names. The Wildcats start with an exhibition against Little Rock on Oct. 16 at Rupp Arena, then roll into a stretch that includes Manhattan, James Madison, Kansas in the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago, Northern Arizona and Grambling State.
There’s also a trip to Indianapolis for Indiana on Nov. 20, followed by a Dec. 2 visit to Virginia in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Kentucky’s December schedule keeps the spotlight on, with home games against Appalachian State, Bryant, Louisville, Sacred Heart and Gardner-Webb, plus a CBS Sports Classic showdown with North Carolina at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 19.
Here’s how the full schedule lays out:
Oct. 16: exhibition vs. Little Rock (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Nov. 3: Manhattan (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Nov. 6: James Madison (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Nov. 10: vs. Kansas (Champions Classic; United Center, Chicago), Time TBA
Nov. 13: Northern Arizona (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Nov. 16: Grambling State (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Nov. 20: vs. Indiana (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis), Time TBA
Dec. 2: at Virginia (ACC/SEC Challenge; John Paul Jones Arena; Charlottesville, Virginia), Time TBA
Dec. 5: Appalachian State (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Dec. 8: Bryant (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Dec. 12: Louisville (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Dec. 19: vs. North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York)
Dec. 22: Sacred Heart (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Dec. 28: Gardner-Webb (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
The SEC portion picks up Jan. 2 at Oklahoma and runs through a demanding February slate that includes Ole Miss twice, road trips to Missouri, Mississippi State, Texas, Tennessee and Georgia, and home dates with Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, Arkansas, Auburn and Texas A&M.
Kentucky’s SEC schedule:
Jan. 2: at Oklahoma, Time TBA
Jan. 5/6: Ole Miss (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Jan. 9: at Missouri, Time TBA
Jan. 12/13: LSU (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Jan. 16: Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Jan. 19/20: at Mississippi State, Time TBA
Jan. 23: Tennessee (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Jan. 30: at Texas, Time TBA
Feb. 2: at Ole Miss, Time TBA
Feb. 6: Alabama (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Feb. 9: South Carolina (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Feb. 13: at Tennessee, Time TBA
Feb. 16: at Georgia, Time TBA
Feb. 20: Arkansas (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
Feb. 23: at Vanderbilt, Time TBA
Feb. 27: Auburn (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
March 2: Texas A&M (Rupp Arena), Time TBA
March 6: at Florida, Time TBA
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