Bill Self isn’t giving Kansas much room to breathe in 2026-27.
With the Big 12 releasing conference dates Thursday, the Jayhawks’ full schedule is now locked in - and it starts with a brutal mix of marquee nonconference games, exhibition tests and a league slate that leaves little margin for error.
Before Big 12 play even arrives, Kansas will have already dealt with Kentucky, UConn, Ohio State, Missouri and Villanova. That’s before counting exhibition games against Louisville and Duke.
Yes, Duke.
In an exhibition.
Kansas officially announced the completed schedule Thursday, and the Big 12 opener comes Jan. 2 at Allen Fieldhouse against West Virginia.
From there, the road only gets rougher. The Jayhawks will travel to BYU, Kansas State, Houston, Iowa State, Arizona and Baylor during conference play, while hosting Texas Tech, Iowa State, Kansas State and Baylor, among others. There’s not much room for a cold stretch once the league season starts.
The nonconference portion alone looks like a stress test. Kansas opens against Kentucky in the Champions Classic on Nov. 10 in Chicago, then heads to Las Vegas for the Players Era event a week later.
Villanova comes to Allen Fieldhouse on Nov. 27, Missouri is on the schedule in Kansas City on Dec. 6, and UConn awaits on Dec.
- A week after that, Kansas meets Ohio State at Madison Square Garden in the CBS Sports Classic.
That’s a loaded slate even before the October exhibitions against Louisville and Duke.
For a team that went 24-11 and reached another NCAA Tournament last season, this is the kind of schedule that exposes weaknesses fast. It also gives Kansas a massive opportunity to build a top-tier résumé if Self’s group handles it well.
If the Jayhawks are as strong as Self believes, they could enter January with one of the country’s best nonconference résumés already in hand.
Thursday’s release also included a notable March detail: Kansas will host Iowa State on March 1 for Senior Night. The Jayhawks have won 43 straight home finales dating back to the 1983-84 season, and Iowa State gets the next shot at ending that run.
That game will also be on ESPN’s Big Monday, where Kansas has been nearly untouchable at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks are 52-1 at home in Big Monday games and 41-0 under Self.
But before any of that matters, Kansas has to survive the early grind.
Kentucky. Duke.
UConn. Missouri.
Ohio State. Houston.
Arizona. Iowa State.
Kansas State.
Nothing about this schedule suggests Kansas will be able to coast into March.
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The defense did plenty of its own heavy lifting, too, with two interceptions and a ground effort that limited Southern Miss to 102 rushing yards. One of those takeaways turned into points in a big way, and it fit the larger feel of the afternoon for UConn: the Huskies were sharp, opportunistic and comfortable making a statement away from home. [Read more 🡒]