Champions Classic returns to MSG in 2025 for Kentucky vs. Michigan State

The Champions Classic will make its way back to New York City in 2025.

On Tuesday, it was announced that next year’s edition of the Champions Classic, which features Kentucky vs. Michigan State, will take place at Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2021. The game has been scheduled for Nov. 18, 2025, and is one of two contests (Duke vs. Kansas) in the annual early-season doubleheader.

Tipoff times will be announced in the summer of 2025 with tickets going on sale in September 2025.

The @StateFarm Champions Classic is returning to New York City next season!

📅 November 18, 2025
📍 @TheGarden
🏀 @KentuckyMBB vs. @MSU_Basketball | @KUHoops vs. @DukeMBB

Secure first access to tickets by signing up for our pre-sale: https://t.co/EVQn8HbFD5 pic.twitter.com/VgM9dTaZ2u

— State Farm Champions Classic (@championclassic) October 22, 2024

This year’s Champions Classic in Atlanta is set for Nov. 12 as Kentucky will take on Duke for the fifth time in this series. The Wildcats are 1-3 against the Blue Devils during that span. Duke is ranked No. 7 in the AP Preseason Poll while UK checked in at No. 23.

Overall, Kentucky is just 5-8 in the Champions Classic since it started back in 2011. UK has actually lost the last four games of this series, falling to Kansas in 2020 (65-62), Duke in 2021 (79-71), Michigan State in double overtime in 2022 (86-77), and Kansas again in 2023 (89-84). The last win for the Wildcats came against Michigan State at Madison Square Garden in 2019 when Tyrese Maxey dropped 26 points.

Duke and Kansas both hold 8-5 records in the Champions Classic while Kentucky and Michigan State are 5-8. Next year’s showdown with the Spartans will be the fifth matchup of this series for Kentucky. Both sides have won two games each.