Champions Classic headed back to Chicago in 2026

Want to get a head start on planning your 2026 travel? ESPN Events just announced that the Champions Classic will return to Chicago next season. Kentucky will play Kansas, and Michigan State will play Duke in the doubleheader on Nov. 10, 2026 at the United Center.

Next year will mark the fifth time the Champions Classic has been played in Chicago. The United Center hosted the event in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2023. Kentucky has only won one of those games, beating Duke in 2015. Kentucky’s most recent game in Chicago was an 89-84 loss to Kansas, one of three losses to the Jayhawks in the event. Hopefully, the Windy City will be kinder to the Cats next season. Kentucky is 6-8 in the Champions Classic overall. The Cats can improve that mark vs. Michigan State tonight in New York.

When it comes to other non-conference games, we’re still waiting to hear when and where the 2026 CBS Sports Classic will take place. The game vs. Gonzaga will be played at Rupp Arena next season, while the game vs. Indiana is scheduled for December 27 at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Louisville game will be back in Rupp, too.

No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 17 Michigan State: How to Watch, Listen

Kentucky vs. Michigan State is the first half of the Champions Classic doubleheader tonight. No. 24 Kansas vs. No. 5 Duke is the second, starting at approximately 8:30 p.m. ET following ESPN’s reveal of the latest College Football Playoff rankings. College Gameday will air live from Madison Square Garden at 6 p.m. on ESPN, featuring Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Seth Greenberg, Jay Williams, and Andraya Carter.

• Tipoff: 6:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN (Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas, Kris Budden)
• Local Radio: UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
• FM: 98.1 WBUL
• Online: iHeart Radio
• Sirius XM: 84

You can also follow along on the KSR LIVE BLOG, which will start a few hours before tipoff, and join the conversation on KSBoard.

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