The University of Louisville men’s basketball team dropped its full 2025-26 non-conference schedule on August 21, 2025 — and the headline isn’t just the games. It’s the return of a rivalry that never truly died. On November 21, 2025, the Cardinals will face the University of Cincinnati at the Heritage Bank Center in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio — a neutral-site showdown branded as "The Hoops Classic in partnership with CareSource." For fans who remember the days when these two teams battled for conference supremacy, this isn’t just another early-season game. It’s a homecoming.
The Rivalry Is Back — Sort Of
It’s been five years since Louisville and Cincinnati last met as conference foes in the American Athletic Conference. But the animosity? The history? It’s still alive. Head coach Pat Kelsey didn’t just schedule the game — he framed it as personal. "I grew up going to the Riverfront Coliseum," Kelsey said, referring to the arena now known as Heritage Bank Center. "It was the first place I saw Coach Crum’s Louisville Cardinals play live. I’m excited to coach the 2025-26 edition of the Cards in the same venue."
The emotional weight runs both ways. Cincinnati, still reeling from its own coaching transition, knows this isn’t just another non-conference date. The Bearcats have held every opponent under 64 points through their early preseason games, according to reports from dailycampus.com. Meanwhile, Louisville enters the season ranked No. 6 in preseason polls, having scored 412 points in its first four exhibition contests. This isn’t a tune-up. It’s a statement game.
The Three-Game MTE: Neutral, Home, Home
The Cincinnati game kicks off a three-game multi-team event (MTE) that’s as strategic as it is nostalgic. After the road trip to Ohio, the Cardinals return to the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, to host Eastern Michigan University on November 24 and New Jersey Institute of Technology on November 26. Both are winnable games — but don’t underestimate NJIT. The Highlanders upset a ranked team last season and play a relentless, pace-driven style that could test Louisville’s half-court defense.
And here’s the twist: the MTE isn’t just about wins. It’s about momentum. Winning two of these three games — especially the Cincinnati clash — could vault Louisville into the Top 5 by early December. Losing? That’s a red flag before conference play even begins.
More Than Just the MTE: A Gauntlet of Tests
The non-conference slate is a rollercoaster. It opens with two exhibition games: October 24 against the University of Kansas — yes, that Kansas — on Denny Crum Court at the KFC Yum! Center. Then, on October 28, Louisville plays Bucknell in a charity exhibition benefiting Kentuckiana Friends of V. These aren’t scrimmages. They’re dress rehearsals for a team trying to rebuild its national identity after a quiet 2024-25 season.
The regular season begins November 3 with South Carolina State, followed by Jackson State on November 5. Then comes the big one: the 58th annual Battle of the Bluegrass against the University of Kentucky on November 11. That game will be televised nationally. Tickets sold out within 90 minutes last year. This year? Expect a waiting list.
After that, Louisville travels to Fayetteville to face the University of Arkansas on December 3 as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Then, on December 6, the Cardinals head to Indianapolis for the CareSource Invitational — their third straight year playing Indiana University in a neutral-site game. The Hoosiers are rebuilding, but they’ve got a new star point guard who averaged 18.3 points last season. This isn’t a gimme.
The Grand Finale: Valentine’s Day in Texas
And then there’s February 14, 2026. Yes, Valentine’s Day. In Fort Worth. At Dickies Arena. Against Baylor University. The game, scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2, is described by ESPN Events as a "marquee win opportunity" — meaning both teams need it for NCAA Tournament resume-building. Baylor’s still a powerhouse. Louisville? They’ll be fighting for an at-large bid. This isn’t just a game. It’s a lifeline.
And let’s not forget the Peraton Armed Forces Classic. On November 4, Louisville will play the University of Connecticut at Alumni Hall on the U.S. Naval Academy campus in Annapolis, Maryland. A 5:30 p.m. ET tip-off. A military audience. A national spotlight. It’s the kind of game that builds character — and TV ratings.
What This Means for Louisville
Coach Kelsey didn’t schedule this slate to be easy. He scheduled it to be hard — because the ACC doesn’t reward teams that play soft. The Cardinals finished 18-15 last season. They missed the NCAA Tournament. They need to prove they belong.
This schedule gives them 12 non-conference games — seven at home, five on the road or neutral sites. Five of those games are against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year. Two more are against teams that nearly made it. The message? No more cupcakes. No more guaranteed wins. If Louisville wants to return to the national conversation, they’ll have to earn it.
And for fans? The ticket presale begins August 21 for season ticket holders. General sales start August 28 on Ticketmaster. The Cincinnati game? It’s already sold out in the Cardinals’ allocation. The waitlist? It’s long.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Louisville-Cincinnati game being played at Heritage Bank Center instead of Louisville?
The game is hosted at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati as part of a neutral-site arrangement designed to honor the rivalry’s history and maximize fan engagement. Both schools agreed to rotate home-court advantage in future matchups, but this year’s game was scheduled in Cincinnati to align with the "Hoops Classic" branding and the event’s partnership with CareSource. The venue, formerly Riverfront Coliseum, holds deep historical significance for Louisville fans — it’s where Coach Denny Crum led the Cardinals to two national titles.
How does this schedule impact Louisville’s NCAA Tournament chances?
With five games against 2024 NCAA Tournament teams and two more against near-miss programs, Louisville’s non-conference strength of schedule ranks among the top 15 nationally. The NCAA Selection Committee values early-season wins against ranked opponents — especially on the road. A 3-1 record in the MTE, plus a win over Kentucky or Baylor, could be enough to lock up a Top 4 seed. Lose two of those key games? The Cardinals might be on the bubble — and that’s risky in a crowded ACC.
What’s the significance of playing Indiana for the third straight year?
Indiana and Louisville have a long-standing regional rivalry dating back to the Big East era. Playing them annually in neutral-site events — like the CareSource Invitational — keeps the rivalry alive without conference obligations. It also helps both programs maintain national relevance and draw TV audiences. For Louisville, it’s a chance to build momentum before conference play; for Indiana, it’s a resume-builder against a top-25 opponent. Both sides benefit from the consistency.
Why is the Baylor game scheduled on Valentine’s Day?
ESPN Events scheduled the game for February 14, 2026, to capitalize on a rare weekend window when few major college basketball games are competing for airtime. With no conference tournaments yet underway and the NCAA Tournament still weeks away, this is a prime slot for a marquee non-conference matchup. It’s also a strategic move by Baylor — they’re looking for a high-profile win to bolster their at-large bid. For Louisville, it’s a last-chance opportunity to prove they belong in March.
Will the KFC Yum! Center host more than seven non-conference games this season?
No. Louisville’s 2025-26 non-conference schedule includes exactly seven home games at the KFC Yum! Center: Kansas (exhibition), Eastern Michigan, NJIT, South Carolina State, Jackson State, Kentucky, and Montana. The other five non-conference games are either neutral-site (Cincinnati, Indiana, UConn, Baylor) or away (Arkansas). The venue will also host ACC conference games, but those are not counted in the non-conference total.
How can fans buy tickets for the Cincinnati game?
Season ticket holders received exclusive presale access via email starting August 21, 2025. General public tickets went on sale on Ticketmaster.com beginning August 28, 2025. The game is already sold out in Louisville’s allocation, and secondary market prices have surged past $150. Fans are advised to purchase through official channels to avoid scams. The Heritage Bank Center holds approximately 19,000 for basketball, and nearly 10,000 tickets were allocated to Louisville supporters.
