While a game against John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks has not been finalized, a spokesperson for UofM Athletics said that it is still in the works.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The University of Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team gave fans something to look forward to Thursday, Aug. 21, with the release of its 2025-26 out-of-conference schedule.
Following its 2024-25 campaign that saw the 29-6 Tigers lose to 12-seed Colorado State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, coach Penny Hardaway has put together a nonconference schedule that he hopes challenges his team and packs FedExForum.
While the schedule is filled with storylines, there’s one game that fans might notice is missing: Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers versus John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks.
During the June 30, 2025, episode of his podcast, “The Two Cents Podcast”, Hardaway and Calipari discussed the state of college basketball; the impact name, image and likeness deals have had on recruiting; and the possibility of a Memphis versus Arkansas matchup in the 2025 Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic.
While both coaches were enthusiastic about the prospect of playing in the charity game, a spokesperson for University of Memphis Athletics told ABC24 Thursday, Aug. 21, that nothing has been finalized, but that there could be more news in the coming weeks.
One exhibition game has been confirmed, however, and the Tigers will be tested by 2024-25 Final Four participant Auburn at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Oct. 30. The two teams met in the 2024 Maui Invitational, with Auburn winning that game 90-76.
The Tigers’ regular season will officially tip off inside FedExForum on Nov. 8 against the University of San Francisco Dons.
Ole Miss will host the UofM in Oxford on Nov. 11 when the Rebels will look for revenge after last season’s 87-70 Tiger victory at FedExForum.
For the first time since the 1986-87 season, Memphis will play the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Runnin’ Rebels. UNLV hired former Tiger basketball head coach Josh Pastner during the off-season, and the Nov. 16 matchup will be Pastner’s first game back inside FedExForum since he left for the head coaching job at Georgia Tech following the Tigers’ 2013-14 campaign.
The UofM will travel to the Bahamas the week before Thanksgiving, where the team will see Purdue on Nov. 20 in the first round of the Baha Mar Championship. Depending on the outcome of that game and of the other first-round matchup, the Tigers will play either Wake Forest or Texas Tech the following day.
Reviving a generational rivalry, the Tigers will play the first game in a six-year agreement against their longtime foe, the Louisville Cardinals. Memphis will play at Louisville on Dec. 13, marking the first time the two teams have met since the 2017-18 season.
Over the following week, the Tigers will take on two regional SEC rivals when they play Vanderbilt at home on Dec. 17 before traveling to Starkville, Miss., just three days later to face head coach Chris Jans’ Mississippi State Bulldogs on Dec. 20.
The UofM will head into a tricky conference schedule at the start of 2026, but not before playing Alabama State at home on Dec. 22.
A statement from University of Memphis Athletics released Thursday, Aug. 21, read:
“The 13-game regular-season slate includes seven contests at FedExForum and seven matchups against power-conference opponents. After owning one of the nation’s toughest nonconference schedules last season, Hardaway — never one to shy away from a challenge — is back at it, scheduling eight teams that finished in the NET’s top 50 last year and 10 games against KenPom top-100 programs.”
Game times for all games will be announced closer to tip-off, but the Tigers’ full nonconference schedule can be found below:
- Oct. 30 – vs. Auburn (Exhibition game; Atlanta)
- Nov. 8 – San Francisco
- Nov. 11 – at Ole Miss
- Nov. 16 – UNLV
- Nov. 20 – vs. Purdue (Baha Mar Championship; Bahamas)
- Nov. 21 – vs. Texas Tech/Wake Forest (Baha Mar Championship; Bahamas)
- Nov. 26 – SIU
- Dec. 3 – New Orleans
- Dec. 6 – Baylor
- Dec. 13 – at Louisville
- Dec. 17 – Vanderbilt
- Dec. 20 – at Mississippi State
- Dec. 22 – Alabama State
- Feb. 14 – at Utah State
Ticket information can be found at gotigersgo.com.