ESPN Events Announces 2025-26 College Basketball Schedule
10 tournaments and events showcasing 41 teams across 15 conferences
ESPN Events has announced the matchups and schedules for 10 of its owned-and-operated and partnered events for the 2025-26 men’s and women’s college basketball seasons. Combining for more than 80 hours of programming across ESPN platforms, ESPN Events will showcase 41 teams, including eight teams in the preseason AP Top 10 men’s and women’s rankings for the 2025-26 season.
In all, 15 conferences will be represented in the 10 events, including the ACC, American, America East, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Big West, Coastal, Conference USA, Ivy League, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, SEC and Southern.
This season, ESPN Events’ men’s and women’s basketball events will feature 21 teams that earned NCAA Championship tournament berths last season, including men’s national champion Florida and women’s champion UConn; the men’s field includes BYU, Baylor, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Liberty, Louisville, Michigan State, Texas, UC San Diego, UConn and Utah State, while the women’s field features Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, NC State, UConn and USC.
The Peraton Armed Forces Classic gets underway Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN App from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md, showcasing its first-ever women’s college basketball matchup between the Louisville Cardinals (No. 20) and defending national champions UConn Huskies (No. 1). This 10th edition of the event continues as part of ESPN’s annual America’s Heroes: Salute to Veterans initiative, which dedicates a week of multiplatform programming for Veterans Day.
The inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational presented by Belk, in collaboration with the Charlotte Sports Foundation, tips off Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 8:45 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App and will feature a marquee matchup between national powers –Texas Longhorns vs. Duke Blue Devils (No. 6) – at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The new men’s college basketball event will annually honor Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale, one of the most respected ambassadors and iconic voices in the sport.
The Ally Tipoff, also in collaboration with the Charlotte Sports Foundation, returns to the Spectrum Center on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 3 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App, featuring a Top 20 matchup between USC (No. 18) and NC State (No. 9). Following a Sweet Sixteen tournament appearance last season, NC State will face an intriguing USC team fresh off back to back Elite Eight appearances.
Celebrating 15 years, this season’s State Farm® Champions Classic returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2021, featuring four of college basketball’s premier programs on Nov. 18. The action begins at 6:30 p.m. with 2025 Elite Eight participant Michigan State (No. 22) facing Sweet 16 team Kentucky (No. 9), followed by 2025 Final Four contender Duke (No. 6) taking on Kansas (No. 19) at 9 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App. ESPN’s College GameDay Covered by State Farm® will be presented live from MSG for pregame coverage.
The Shriners Children’s Hospital Charleston Classic and Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational will again be part of ESPN’s Feast Week programming this fall. See below schedule grid for details.
The Shriners Children’s Hospital Charleston Classic will be played Nov. 21 and 23 at TD Arena in Charleson, S.C., and will feature two four-team brackets. The Palmetto bracket will include Clemson, Georgia, West Virginia and Xavier, while the Lowcountry Bracket will feature Boston College, Davidson, Tulane and Utah State.
This year’s Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational will feature three separate multi-team tournament brackets – Adventure, Imagination, Magic – at Walt Disney World Resort with each crowning its own champion. The tournaments will take place Nov. 24-28 at State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla., with all games presented live on ESPN platforms and the ESPN App.
The Adventure bracket includes Bradley, Liberty, Princeton, Rhode Island, Temple, Towson, UC San Diego and Vermont. The eight team field features three programs – Liberty (C-USA), Towson (Coastal), Vermont (America East) – favored to win their respective conferences. Each team will each play three games between Nov. 24-26.
The Imagination bracket includes Charlotte, Furman, Illinois State and Richmond, while the Magic bracket includes BYU (No. 8) – led by ESPN’s No.1-ranked incoming freshman A.J. Dybantsa, Dayton, Georgetown and Miami. The semifinals will be played on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, with the championship and consolations games taking place on Nov. 28.
The Jimmy V Men’s Classic presented by Modelo® annual doubleheader returns to Madison Square Garden on Dec. 9, featuring Clemson vs. BYU (No.6) at 6:30 p.m. followed by a top-five showdown between the defending national champion Florida Gators (No. 3) and UConn (No. 4) at 9 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App.
On the women’s college hoops side, the Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Modelo® will take place on Dec. 10 and feature a Top 25 matchup of in-state rivals when Iowa State (No. 14) hosts Iowa (No. 21) at 7 p.m. on ESPN and the ESPN App from the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.
The inaugural women’s college basketball Sprouts Farmers Market espnW Invitational tips off Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. on ABC from Dickies Arena at Fort Worth, Texas. The first-ever game will feature a Top 20, Big 12-SEC battle between Baylor (No. 16) and Texas (No. 4).
Men’s college basketball action continues Feb. 14 with Louisville (No. 11) taking on Baylor in a men’s late-season non-conference matchup, providing both programs the opportunity to pick up a marquee win. The ACC-Big 12 matchup tips off at 4 p.m. on ESPN at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
ESPN Events – 2025-26 College Basketball Season
Peraton Armed Forces Classic (Women’s College Basketball) | Nov. 4
Alumni Hall at United States Naval Academy | Annapolis, Md
Teams: Louisville vs. UConn
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Tues, Nov. 4 | 5:30 p.m. | Louisville vs. UConn | ESPN |
Dick Vitale Invitational Presented by Belk | Nov. 4
Spectrum Center | Charlotte, N.C.
Teams: Texas vs. Duke
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Tues, Nov. 4 | 8:45 p.m. | Texas vs. Duke | ESPN |
Ally Tipoff (Women’s College Basketball) | Nov. 9
Spectrum Center | Charlotte, N.C.
Teams: USC vs. NC State
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Sun, Nov. 9 | 3 p.m. | USC vs. NC State | ESPN |
State Farm Champions Classic | Nov. 18
Madison Square Garden | New York, N.Y.
Teams: Michigan State vs. Kentucky | Kansas vs. Duke
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Tue, Nov. 18 | 6:30 p.m. | Michigan State vs. Kentucky | ESPN |
| 9 p.m. | Kansas vs. Duke | ESPN |
Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic | November 21 and 23
TD Arena | Charleston, S.C.
Lowcountry Bracket: Boston College, Davidson Tulane, Utah State
Palmetto Bracket: Clemson, Georgia, West Virginia, Xavier
Lowcountry Bracket | November 21 and 23
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Fri., Nov. 21 | 1 p.m. | Utah State vs. Tulane | ESPN2 |
| 3:30 p.m. | Davidson vs. Boston College | ESPN2 | |
| Sun, Nov. 23 | 6:30 p.m. | 3rd Place Game | ESPN2 |
| 9:30 p.m. | Championship | ESPN2 |
Palmetto Bracket | November 21 and 23
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Fri., Nov. 21 | 6:30 p.m. | West Virginia vs. Clemson | ESPN2 |
| 9 p.m. | Georgia vs. Xavier | ESPN2/ESPNU | |
| Sun, Nov. 23 | 1 p.m. | Championship | ESPN |
| 3:30 p.m. | 3rd Place Game | ESPN |
ESPN Events Invitational | November 24-28
State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex | Kissimmee, Fla.
Adventure Bracket: Bradley, Liberty, Princeton, Rhode Island, Temple, Towson, UC San Diego, Vermont
Imagination Bracket: Charlotte, Furman, Illinois State, Richmond
Magic Bracket: BYU, Dayton, Georgetown, Miami (Fla.)
Adventure Bracket | November 24-26
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Mon, Nov. 24
|
11 a.m. | Rhode Island vs. Towson | ESPN2/ESPNU |
| 1:30 p.m. | Liberty vs. Vermont | ESPNU | |
| 4:30 p.m. | Temple vs. UC San Diego | ESPNU | |
| 7 p.m. | Princeton vs. Bradley | ESPNU | |
| Tue, Nov. 25
|
Noon | Semifinal #1 | ESPN2 |
| 2:30 p.m. | Consolation #1 | ESPNU | |
| 5 p.m. | Semifinal #2 | ESPN2 | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Consolation #2 | ESPNU | |
| Wed, Nov. 26 | Noon | Championship Game | ESPN2 |
| 2:30 p.m. | Third place game | ESPNU | |
| 5 p.m. | Seventh place game | ESPN+ | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Fifth place game | ESPNU |
Imagination Bracket | November 27-28
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Thu, Nov. 27 | 11 a.m. | Richmond vs. Furman | ESPN2 |
| 1:30 p.m. | Charlotte vs. Illinois State | ESPN2 | |
| Fri, Nov. 28
|
12:30 p.m. | Third Place Game | ESPN+ |
| 3 p.m. | Championship Game | ESPN2 |
Magic Bracket | November 27-28
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Thu, Nov. 27
|
5 p.m. | BYU vs. Miami | ESPN |
| 7:30 p.m. | Georgetown vs. Dayton | ESPN2 | |
| Fri, Nov. 28
|
7 p.m. | Championship or Third Place Game | ESPN/ESPN2 |
| 9:30 p.m. | Championship or Third Place Game | ESPN/ESPN2 |
Jimmy V Men’s Classic Presented by Modelo | December 9
Madison Square Garden | New York, N.Y.
Teams: Clemson vs. BYU | Florida vs. UConn
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Tue, Dec. 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Clemson vs. BYU | ESPN |
| 9 p.m. | Florida vs. UConn | ESPN |
Jimmy V Women’s Classic Presented by Modelo | December 10
Hilton Coliseum | Ames, Iowa
Teams: Iowa at Iowa State
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Wed, Dec. 10 | 7 p.m. | Iowa at Iowa State | ESPN |
Sprouts Farmers Market espnW Invitational (Women’s College Basketball) | December 14
Dickies Arena | Fort Worth, Texas
Teams: Baylor vs. Texas
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Sun, Dec. 14 | 1 p.m. | Baylor vs. Texas | ABC |
Louisville vs. Baylor | February 14
Dickies Arena | Fort Worth, Texas
Teams: Louisville vs. Baylor
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Platform |
| Sat, Feb. 14 | 4 p.m. | Louisville vs. Baylor | ESPN/ESPN2 |
ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In the 2025-26 academic year, the 35-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premiere regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account 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. Follow ESPN Events on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube pages.
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