Game Times Announced and Tickets On Sale for Jimmy V Classic presented by Modelo
ESPN Events has announced the game times and ticket on-sale details for the 2026 Jimmy V Classic Presented by Modelo®. The annual men’s college basketball doubleheader at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, December 8 and will air on ESPN. The first matchup will feature ESPN preseason Top-25 ranked teams Alabama vs. Houston at 6:30 p.m. ET. The nightcap will feature Georgia vs. ESPN preseason #2 ranked Duke at 9:00 p.m. ET.
This year’s field showcases three programs – Duke, Alabama and Houston – who advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments. The Blue Devils continued their run advancing to the Final Four.
This year will mark Duke’s fifth appearance in the Jimmy V Classic. They have won four Jimmy V Classic titles, making them the most successful team in Jimmy V Classic history.
The Jimmy V Classic, named for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano, raises funds and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The Jimmy V Classic began in 1995 and is in its 32nd year – 23rd at Madison Square Garden, with Modelo serving as a proud presenter for the past two seasons as part of its category-leading presence within college basketball. It is also part of ESPN’s annual V Week, which puts cancer research awareness in the spotlight through extra amplification across ESPN platforms. To date, ESPN has helped raise more than $292 million for the V Foundation since 1993. ESPN’s annual V Week has helped raise over $116 million over the past 19 years. This year will mark the 20th annual V Week.
Tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/3B006515D5CB98C3
About the V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach and ESPN commentator. The V Foundation has funded over $500 million in game-changing cancer research grants nationwide through a competitive process strictly supervised by a world-class Scientific Advisory Committee. Because the V Foundation has an endowment to cover administrative expenses, 100% of direct donations is awarded to cancer research and programs. The V team is committed to accelerating Victory Over Cancer®. To learn more, visit v.org.
About ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In the 2026-27 academic year, the 35-event schedule includes four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, nine college basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premier regular-season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events accounted for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
About Modelo
Born in 1925 in the small town of Tacuba, Mexico, Modelo has been bringing distinctive high-quality beer to those with the Fighting Spirit ever since, including Modelo Especial®, Modelo Negra®, Modelo Oro and a flavorful lineup of Modelo Cheladas and Modelo Spiked Aguas Frescas.
Modelo Especial is a golden, full-flavored pilsner-style lager with a clean, crisp finish and is the #1 beer in the U.S. in dollar sales. The Casa Modelo brand family is exclusively brewed in Mexico, imported and marketed within the U.S. by Constellation Brands.