Kentucky’s showdown with Louisville is headed to ABC, giving one of college basketball’s biggest rivalry games a national afternoon stage.
ESPN released its ABC slate for the season, and the first men’s game on the list is Kentucky vs. Louisville at Rupp Arena on Saturday, Dec.
- Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
ET.
The matchup already carries plenty of weight. Both programs attacked the transfer portal, with Louisville’s class ranked No. 2 and Kentucky’s at No. 4 in 247 Sports’ transfer portal team rankings.
In ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Rankings, Louisville comes in at No. 15 and Kentucky at No. 22.
Last season’s meeting in Lexington was one of the defining moments of Mark Pope’s first year, when Lamont Butler poured in 33 points in a Kentucky win. Louisville answered in the rematch at the Yum Center, where Pat Kelsey’s team beat the Cats 96-88.
This season, the rivalry lands in a bigger TV window, and the pressure around it feels even sharper with Pope entering what the source describes as a pivotal season.
ABC’s men’s basketball schedule also includes Texas Tech vs. Kansas on Feb.
6, North Carolina vs. Duke on Feb. 13, and Florida vs.
Arkansas on Feb. 27.
Kentucky’s women’s team is getting a national platform, too. Kenny Brooks’ squad will face Texas on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 2 p.m.
ET on CBS, as the second game of a doubleheader that also features Duke at Notre Dame. That one is a rematch of last year’s Sweet 16, when Texas rolled past Kentucky 76-54 in Fort Worth.
The Longhorns are No. 8 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Rankings, while Kentucky checks in at No. 17.
The men’s schedule already has a handful of notable TV windows, including Kansas in the Champions Classic on ESPN, Indiana on CBS, Virginia in the SEC/ACC Challenge on ESPN, North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic, and the Dec. 12 date with Louisville on ABC.
Kentucky Men’s Basketball 2026-27 Schedule
Oct. 2: Big Blue Madness vs. TBA, Rupp Arena, 7:00 PM ET, SEC Network+
Oct. 16: Little Rock (exhibition), Rupp Arena, TBA
Oct. 23: Texas Tech (exhibition), Rupp Arena, TBA
Oct. 28: Central Florida (exhibition), Rupp Arena, TBA
Nov. 3: Manhattan, Rupp Arena, TBA
Nov. 6: James Madison, Rupp Arena, TBA
Nov. 10: vs. Kansas (Champions Classic), United Center, 9:30 PM ET, ESPN
Nov. 13: Northern Arizona, Rupp Arena, TBA
Nov. 16: Grambling State, Rupp Arena, TBA
Nov. 20: vs. Indiana, Lucas Oil Stadium, TBA, CBS
Nov. 27: Wichita State, Rupp Arena, TBA
Dec. 2: at Virginia (SEC/ACC Challenge), John Paul Jones Arena, 7:15 PM ET, ESPN
Dec. 5: Appalachian State, Rupp Arena, TBA
Dec. 8: Bryant, Rupp Arena, TBA
Dec. 12: Louisville, Rupp Arena, 4:00 PM ET, ABC
Dec. 19: vs. North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic), Madison Square Garden, 2:30 PM ET, CBS
Dec. 22: Sacred Heart, Rupp Arena, TBA
Dec. 28: Gardner-Webb, Rupp Arena, TBA
Jan. 2: at Oklahoma (SEC), Lloyd Noble Center, TBA
Jan. 5/6: Ole Miss (SEC), Rupp Arena, TBA
Jan. 9: at Missouri (SEC), Mizzou Arena, TBA
Jan. 12/13: LSU (SEC), Rupp Arena, TBA
Jan. 16: Vanderbilt (SEC), Rupp Arena, TBA
Jan. 19/20: at Mississippi State (SEC), Humphrey Coliseum, TBA
Jan. 23: Tennessee (SEC), Rupp Arena, TBA
Jan. 30: at Texas (SEC), Moody Center, TBA
Feb. 2/3: at Ole Miss (SEC), The Sandy and John Black Pavilion, TBA
Feb. 6: Alabama (SEC), Rupp Arena, TBA
Feb. 9/10: South Carolina (SEC), Rupp Arena, TBA
Feb. 13: at Tennessee (SEC), Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, TBA
Feb. 16/17: at Georgia (SEC), Stegeman Coliseum, TBA
Feb. 20: Arkansas (SEC), Rupp Arena, TBA
Feb. 23/24: at Vanderbilt (SEC), Memorial Gymnasium, TBA
Feb. 27: Auburn (SEC), Rupp Arena, TBA
March 2/3: Texas A&M (SEC), Rupp Arena, TBA
March 6: at Florida (SEC), Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, TBA
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Mark Pope sounds encouraged about where Kentuckys offense could be headed in 2026-27, and the reason is pretty easy to understand. The Wildcats should have a group with real shooting punch, led by Milan Momcilovic and other capable perimeter threats, which gives Pope a foundation to build around as he shapes the next version of the roster. From a talent standpoint, the spacing potential is there, and that alone should matter to anyone trying to project how this team will score.
Still, Popes focus goes beyond just making shots. He has also pointed to cutting as a major part of the offense, which suggests Kentucky wants to create easier looks and keep defenses moving even on nights when the ball may not be flying in from deep. The shot-making will draw the headlines, but the way the Wildcats combine that shooting with disciplined movement could end up telling the bigger story of how effective this offense really becomes. [Read more 🡒]
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Kentuckys South Carolina Prep Suddenly Has A Receiver Concern
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The bigger concern on offense, though, is the receiver group, where the Wildcats now have to account for a potential absence that could affect how they plan the passing game. With a busy Kentucky sports weekend ahead and basketball-related events also on the calendar, the football staff will keep its focus on cleaning up the picture before kickoff and waiting for the next update on who will be available. [Read more 🡒]