CBS Sports announces Ohio State-UCLA, UNC-Kentucky matchups in 10th annual Classic from Atlanta

A couple of huge out-of-conference college basketball games that will be played as a doubleheader were announced on Tuesday. CBS revealed that the 10th annual CBS Sports Classic will be held in Atlanta at State Farm Arena on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Matchups that will take place are Ohio State vs. UCLA and North Carolina vs. Kentucky. The games will be televised by CBS and Paramount+.

This isn’t the first time these teams have faced off in the CBS Sports Classic. In 2020, Ohio State defeated UCLA 77-70, while North Carolina beat Kentucky 75-63.

While these matchups have taken place before, this is the first time the CBS Sports Classic will be played in Atlanta. State Farm Arena marks the seventh different venue to host the CBS Sports Classic. The event has previously featured college basketball matchups in Chicago, Brooklyn, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Cleveland and New York.

Ohio State is coached by Chris Holtmann, who is entering his seventh season leading the Buckeyes. Holtmann has made the NCAA Tournament in four of his six seasons, but Ohio State is coming off of a disappointing 15-18 campaign in 2022-23.

The Buckeyes are looking to get back to their first Final Four since 2012.

UCLA is led by Mick Cronin, who is entering his fifth season leading the Bruins. UCLA had a great year in 2022-23, going 31-6, including an 18-2 mark in Pac-12 play. UCLA has made the Sweet 16 three consecutive years, including reaching the Final Four of the college basketball tournament in 2021.

UCLA has won 11 college basketball national titles. However, its last one came in 1995.

North Carolina entered last season as the No. 1 ranked team in college basketball, but the Tar Heels struggled in 2022-23, finishing the year with a 20-13 mark while failing to reach the NCAA Tournament.

UNC is led by Hubert Davis, who is entering his third season as the head coach at North Carolina. In Year 1, the Tar Heels reached the national championship game, beating Duke in the Final Four along the way.

Expectations are once again high for North Carolina entering the 2023-24 college basketball season. The Tar Heels have won six national titles all-time, with the most recent one coming in 2017.

Kentucky also underachieved in 2022-23, but the Wildcats also have a historically great college basketball program.

UK is coming off of a 22-12 season under John Calipari. The Wildcats have failed to reach the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for four straight years. Calipari is entering his 15th season at Kentucky.

Kentucky has won eight college basketball titles all time, including in 2012 under Calipari.