We finally have a date for the 2025 hardwood edition of the Battle of the Bluegrass.
UK announced Wednesday morning that the Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals will go head-to-head much earlier than usual, with the matchup scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 11, inside the KFC Yum! Center. This rivalry series has traditionally been held in December, but the in-state battle has been moved up to early in the regular season for what could be a top 10 showdown.
A tip-off time has yet to be announced. Kentucky’s regular season begins the week before on Nov. 4.
According to UK statistician Corey Price, only twice has this game been played in November throughout history (1983, 1993). This will mark the earliest in the season that Kentucky and Louisville have ever faced off. UK won last season’s game at Rupp Arena 93-85 and now leads the all-time series 40-17.
Schedule update: Rivalry game, Nov. 11. #GoBigBlue
– https://t.co/9cdU8L6RUJ pic.twitter.com/twmNv8BGDx
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) May 7, 2025
It’s not often that UK and UL play each other on the hardwood before the gridiron, but that’s exactly what will happen this year. The football programs are set to square off on Saturday, Nov. 29, in Louisville.
Kentucky’s 2025-26 non-conference schedule (as we know it)
Kentucky’s non-conference schedule is shaping up to be a tough one. On a recent episode of KSR, Drew Franklin also teased a game vs. Texas Rio Grande Valley, so the Vaqueros may be coming to Rupp as well.
- Oct. 24: vs. Purdue | Rupp Arena (Exhibition)
- Nov. 11: vs. Louisville | KFC Yum! Center
- Nov. 18: vs. Michigan State | Champions Classic (New York)
- Dec. 5: vs. Gonzaga | Nashville
- Dec. 13: vs. Indiana | Rupp Arena
- Dec. 20: vs. St. John’s | CBS Sports Classic (Atlanta)
- Dec. 23: vs. Bellarmine | Rupp Arena
- TBD: SEC/ACC Challenge (TBD)
- TBD: vs. NC Central | Rupp Arena
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