play0:16Bryce James cashes a 3-pointer at Arizona showcaseBryce James knocks down a 3-pointer during a scrimmage at Arizona’s showcase.
Billy Donovan breaks down Florida’s toughness during 24-25 title run (2:12)Legendary Gators coach Billy Donovan highlights how Florida was able to overcome adversity and make plays down the stretch throughout last season. (2:12)
Bryce James cashes a 3-pointer at Arizona showcaseBryce James knocks down a 3-pointer during a scrimmage at Arizona’s showcase.
Joe LunardiOct 14, 2025, 08:05 AM ETClose Resident college basketball bracketologist for ESPN Contributor to SportsCenter, ESPN Insider Published first public bracket in 1995Follow on X
It’s a new era of sorts in examining the nonconference portion of the men’s college basketball season. A diminished slate of traditional MTEs — exempt multiteam events — along with ever-expanding league schedules have combined to change the cadence of marquee matchups, with games between high-majors and the top of the mid-major ranks becoming especially rare.
Power conference challenges, outside the ACC/SEC event in December, have also faded away. The Players Era Festival and other one-off neutral court pairings have picked up some of the slack, but the Big East in recent years has done away with both the Gavitt Games (vs. Big Ten) as well as a mini-challenge against the Big 12.
So, it is necessary to dig a little deeper for the most impactful and attractive nonconference games. That said, here’s a full slate of “can’t miss” encounters for the first month of the 2025-26 campaign.
Defending national champion Florida has a solid chance at back-to-back titles — on the heels of UConn’s three-peat attempt last season. The Gators get a stiff test on opening night against an Arizona team coming off back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances. On our board, this is a battle between preseason No. 1 and No. 4 seeds. Until proven otherwise, Florida is the pick.
Bryce James knocks down a 3-pointer during a scrimmage at Arizona’s showcase.
Why watch? Because it’s Rick Pitino. Because it’s Madison Square Garden. Because Alabama has recently been, and St. John’s could be, a Final Four team. Because, because, because. We like the Red Storm holding serve in the Big Apple.
UConn’s last national championship went through TD Garden in the East Region. BYU, with top freshman and Boston native AJ Dybantsa, might be too young for this spot. But the Cougars aren’t at a talent deficit. Still, it’s hard to go against Dan Hurley and the Huskies in Boston.
AJ Dybantsa: Sweet 16 is the bare minimum goal for BYU
This is my kind of game. Two likely NCAA tournament teams trying to build a nonleague résumé. Phil Martelli Jr. has quickly built a loaded Rams squad, and we know new Wolfpack coach Will Wade isn’t messing around. We like VCU for the upset win, and the Atlantic 10 to return to multibid status in March.
The Champions Classic returns to Madison Square Garden with two teams that have combined for an outrageous 27 No. 1 seeds in the past quarter century. The Jayhawks might be reloading a bit, but there is no such thing in Durham. Duke never “unloads,” and the Blue Devils should prevail in a colossal second game (Kentucky meets Michigan State in the opener).
Opening night of the Charleston Classic features a meaningful semifinal between two potential NCAA bubble teams. Mike White got Georgia to the 2025 tournament in just his third year in Athens; Richard Pitino hopes for an even faster timeline as he takes over the Musketeers. I like Georgia in this one, even with last season’s star freshman Asa Newell in the NBA.
Opening in Maui are two more potential bubble teams. The Trojans went a disappointing 17-18 in Eric Musselman’s first season, while the Broncos missed the dance last season after three straight appearances. Winning is important, obviously — but so is advancing in the winner’s bracket and drawing better opponents in rounds two and three. We like USC in this one.
The preseason No. 2 Cougars get their biggest nonconference test at the Players Era event. The Vols, meanwhile, are looking to get past back-to-back Elite Eight appearances and reach the school’s first Final Four. On this night, though, Houston will look much more like a national championship contender.
It says here that one of these teams will surprise and make the NCAA tournament. We like San Francisco to win this one in the desert, and challenge Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s atop the West Coast Conference.
The Panthers won an epic meeting between these two last season on the road, 91-90 in overtime. If the Buckeyes can return the favor in Pittsburgh — which they should — it would go a long way toward returning Ohio State to the tournament for the first time since 2022.
These are two Philadelphia Big 5 teams picked near the bottom of their respective leagues. Doesn’t matter. It’s Year 99 of the fabled Palestra and this game is part of the Cathedral Classic, which also includes Hofstra and Merrimack. Beats Christmas shopping by a mile.
Billy Donovan breaks down Florida’s toughness during 24-25 title run (2:12)Legendary Gators coach Billy Donovan highlights how Florida was able to overcome adversity and make plays down the stretch throughout last season. (2:12)
Legendary Gators coach Billy Donovan highlights how Florida was able to overcome adversity and make plays down the stretch throughout last season. (2:12)
Nov. 21 | 9 p.m. ET | Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic | Charleston | ESPN2
Close Resident college basketball bracketologist for ESPN Contributor to SportsCenter, ESPN Insider Published first public bracket in 1995Follow on X
Nov. 3 | 7 p.m. ET | Hall of Fame Series | Las Vegas | TNT
Nov. 15 | 7 p.m. ET | Hall of Fame Series | Boston | FOX
Nov. 18 | 9 p.m. ET | Champions Classic | New York | ESPN
Nov. 24 | 5 p.m. ET | Maui Invitational | Lahaina | ESPN2
Nov. 25 | 6 p.m. ET | Players Era Festival | Las Vegas | TNT
Nov. 27 | 2 p.m. ET | Holiday Classic | Palm Springs | CBS Sports Network
Nov. 29 | 4:30 p.m. ET | Cathedral Classic | Philadelphia | ESPN+
play2:10AJ Dybantsa: Sweet 16 is the bare minimum goal for BYUAJ Dybantsa joins Skubie Mageza to discuss BYU, his favorite thing about Utah and his NBA comps.
AJ Dybantsa: Sweet 16 is the bare minimum goal for BYUAJ Dybantsa joins Skubie Mageza to discuss BYU, his favorite thing about Utah and his NBA comps.