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Kansas' enticing non-conference slate was just revealed ahead of a crucial next season

The Kansas Jayhawks are going to have their work cut out for them from the jump next season.
ByConnor Mardian|
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Mar 19, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self speaks at a press conference ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Mar 19, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self speaks at a press conference ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

While there is excitement brewing around the Kansas Jayhawks ahead of next season, there are still big question marks. 

So far, with at least 12 new faces set to join the roster, Kansas is in a place where things have to mesh sooner rather than later, and with Kansas’ recently revealed out-of-conference slate, there will be plenty of early tests. 

Kansas’ 2026 slate is filled with multiple traps

Following what should be two relatively easy wins against Fordham and Middle Tennessee to get the season started, things quickly amp up when the Jayhawks get to travel to the illustrious United Center to take on the Kentucky Wildcats in the State Farm Champions Classic. 

Not only is Kentucky one of the few Blue Bloods of the sport, but the pair also have some recent off-the-court drama regarding the signature of Tyran Stokes. All season, the Jayhawks and the Wildcats were constantly one-upping each other for Stokes, with both sides given real reason to believe they were the frontrunner for the nation’s No. 1 player before Stokes announced he would be attending KU. 

The Jayhawks will then get to travel to the Players Era in Las Vegas, a place Bill Self and Co. know all too well, as just last season, Kansas went undefeated before claiming third place with wins over Notre Dame, Syracuse and No. 17 Tennessee. 

Next season, Kansas will be playing in the Players Era 8, an eight-team tournament that posts Kansas up against UNLV. If the Jayhawks beat the Rebels, then they will face either West Virginia or Auburn. Kansas wins again and they will be in the championship against either Florida, Notre Dame, Houston or Rutgers. 

KU will then take on Denver in what should be another straightforward matchup before a meeting with the historic Villanova inside Allen Fieldhouse in a game that was just recently announced. 

Northern Iowa will then travel to the Fieldhouse before a neutral site set against the Missouri Tigers at the T-Mobile Center. Last season when the pair met, the Jayhawks stormed past the Tigers in an 80-60 win; however, with former rising star Bryson Tiller now playing for the SEC side, there is some added intensity to the already fierce meeting. 

Kansas’ most difficult meeting of the non-conference slate has to be when Self and Co. must travel to take on UConn. Last season, the two faced off in what was a thrilling 61-56 win for the No. 2 Huskies, as a Darryn Peterson-less Jayhawk squad fell just short in the dying embers. 

Kansas will then take part in the CBS Sports Classic after being added in earlier this year. In joining the Classic, KU will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes before two more non-conference games against Indiana State and New Orleans push the Jayhawks into the regular season. 

Kansas’ non-conference schedule listed below 

Fordham Nov. 2 (H)

Middle Tennessee Nov. 6 (H)

State Farm Champions Classic, Kentucky Nov. 10 (N)

Players Era, UNLV  Nov. 17-19 (N)

Denver Nov. 23 (H)

Villanova Nov. 27 (H)

Northern Iowa Dec. 1 (H)

Missouri Dec. 6 (N)

Connecticut Dec. 13 (A) 

CBS Sports Classic, Ohio State Dec. 19 (N)

Indiana State Dec. 22 (H)New Orleans Dec. 29 (H)

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