Arkansas versus Houston hoops matchup location set
For the second consecutive holiday season, Arkansas will play a basketball game in the New York Metropolitan Area.
It was reported earlier in the summer that the Razorbacks would play the Houston Cougars in a neutral site matchup during the 2025-2026 season and they will face off at The Prudential Center in Newark (N.J.) on Saturday, December 20 in the Never Forget Tribute Classic.
The game will air on The CBS Television Network, as well as stream live in Paramount+. Tipoff time will be announced at a later date.
“We are excited about this matchup for our fans,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari said. “Razorback nation proved last year that they will show up for games like this that are played in elite facilities at destination cities. We look forward to facing a top-level program led by one of the best coaches in the country.
“Kelvin and I have been friends a long time. He has built an incredible program with a great culture at Houston. This game will be a great measuring stick for us as we wind down the non-conference part of the schedule and start to turn our attention to the SEC schedule.”
Calipari has faced Houston 20 times in his carer, 19 as a head coach at Memphis and once at Kentucky, and compiled a 17-3 overall record in that span. The Razorbacks own a 22-18 advantage in the all-time series between the two squads.
“The great thing about piecing together a schedule is that you have to schedule teams who are going to test you,” Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson said. “When you play one of John’s teams, you know their fan base is going to travel. Prudential Center is going to be full of Razorback fans. Arkansas is one of the great programs in the country, and John is a Hall of Fame coach. This is a great opportunity to test ourselves early against one of the best programs in the country.”
This showdown will be the eighth edition of the Never Forget Classic that is hosted by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. The event supports 9/11-related charities.
Arkansas’ non-conference schedule so far
- Southern University – November 3 (H)
- Michigan State – November 8 (A)
- Central Arkansas – November 11 (H)
- Winthrop – November 18 (H)
- Jackson State – November 21 (H)
- Duke – November 27 (N)
- Louisville – December 3 (H)
- Texas Tech – December 13 (N)
- Queens – December 16 (H)
- Houston – December 20 (N)
- James Madison – Decemer 29 (H)
