ESPN has unveiled its ESPN on ABC lineup for the 2026-27 women’s and men’s college basketball seasons, including 13 marquee matchups across the ACC, Big 12 and SEC. In all, the ABC schedule showcases 17 ranked women’s and men’s teams, with 12 top-25 games according to ESPN.com’s Way-Too-Early rankings.
Women’s teams featured on the ABC schedule include 10 top-25 preseason teams – No. 1 South Carolina, No. 2 UConn, No. 3 Duke, No. 5 USC, No. 8 Texas, No. 10 LSU, No. 11 Vanderbilt, No. 16 Notre Dame, No. 17 Kentucky and No. 22 Oklahoma State.
On the men’s side, ranked programs in action include No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Duke, No. 9 Texas Tech, No. 10 Arkansas, No. 15 Louisville, No. 22 Kentucky and No. 25 Kansas.
2026-27 ESPN on ABC College Basketball Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Game |
| Sun, Nov 15 | 1 p.m. | Women: No. 5 USC vs. No. 1 South Carolina |
| Sun, Dec 6 | 4 p.m. | Women: No. 22Oklahoma State at No. 1 South Carolina |
| Sat, Dec 12 | 4 p.m. | Men: No. 15 Louisville at No. 22 Kentucky |
| Sun, Dec 20 | 1 p.m. | Women: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 10 LSU |
| Sun, Jan 3 | 1 p.m. | Women: No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 10 LSU |
| 3 p.m. | Women: No. 1 South Carolina at No. 8 Texas | |
| Sun, Jan 10 | Noon | Women: No. 3 Duke at No. 16 Notre Dame |
| 2 p.m. | Women: No. 8 Texas at No. 17 Kentucky | |
| Sun, Jan 17 | 1 p.m. | Women: No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 8 Texas |
| Sat, Feb 6 | Noon | Men: No. 9 Texas Tech at No. 25 Kansas |
| Sat, Feb 13 | 5:30 p.m. | Men: North Carolina at No. 2 Duke |
| Sun, Feb 21 | 3 p.m. | Women: No. 10 LSU at No. 1 South Carolina |
| Sat, Feb 27 | 3 p.m. | Men: No. 1Florida at No. 10 Arkansas |
*Rankings based on ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25
Women’s ESPN on ABC Schedule Breakdown
- Sunday, Nov. 15
- No. 5 USC vs. No. 1 South Carolina: In the second rendition of the battle for “The Real SC”, the fifth-ranked Trojans head to Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, S.C. to take on the top-ranked Gamecocks. South Carolina took last season’s matchup 69-52, but JuJu Watkins returns to the court for the 2026 game as the two teams look to crown the “real SC.”
- Sunday, Dec. 6
- No. 22 Oklahoma State at No. 1 South Carolina: Audi Crooks and the No. 22 Oklahoma State Cowgirls take on No. 1 South Carolina in a top-25 matchup. The Gamecocks are coming off a national championship appearance, while the Cowgirls made the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
- Sunday, Dec. 20
- No. 2 UConn vs. No. 10 LSU: In the first meeting between the perennial powers in more than a decade, the No. 2 UConn Huskies take on the No. 10 LSU Tigers at Bridgestone Arena. UConn holds the advantage between the two squads, but LSU looks to get its first win over the Huskies since 2007 in the second Sprouts Farmers Market espnW Invitational.
- Sunday, Jan. 3
- No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 10 LSU: The battle between No. 11 Vanderbilt and No. 10 LSU is expected to start the conference season strong as the all-time series is virtually deadlocked, with LSU holding the 28-27 overall advantage. Last season, the Commodores upset the fifth-ranked Tigers in Shea Ralph’s top-5 win.
- No. 1 South Carolina at No. 8 Texas: In a rematch of last season’s SEC Championship game, No. 1 South Carolina travels to the Moody Center to take on No. 8 Texas. Both teams made the Final Four a season ago and are neck-and-neck in the overall ranking, with South Carolina leading 6-5.
- Sunday, Jan. 10
- No. 3 Duke at No. 16 Notre Dame: Hannah Hidalgo and No. 16 Notre Dame host No. 3 Duke and Toby Fournier in a crucial ACC matchup early in conference play. The last time these two teams met, the Blue Devils won a nailbiter in the ACC Tournament Semifinals, 65-63.
- No. 8 Texas at No. 17 Kentucky: In a rematch last season’s Sweet 16 matchup, the eighth-ranked Longhorns look to continue their streak against Kenny Brooks and the 17th-ranked Wildcats.
- Sunday, Jan. 17
- No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 8 Texas: In a top-12 matchup between two SEC powerhouses, Mikayla Blakes and the Vanderbilt Commodores look to extend their win streak to two games after taking the game over Texas a season ago, 86-70. Madison Booker and the Longhorns look to turn the tide and grab the win in Moody Center.
- Sunday, Feb. 21
- No. 10 LSU at No. 1 South Carolina: The latest installment in one of the fiercest rivalries in sport is expected to have major implications on the SEC regular season championship race. The two teams are responsible for three of the last five national championships, but South Carolina has won the last 18 matchups between the two schools.
Men’s ESPN on ABC Schedule Breakdown
- Saturday, Dec. 12
- No. 15 Louisville at No. 22 Kentucky: One of college basketball’s most passionate rivalries takes center stage as Louisville and Kentucky meet in Rupp Arena. The annual matchup brings together two nationally ranked programs in one of the season’s premier non-conference games.
- Saturday, Feb. 6
- No. 9 Texas Tech at No. 25 Kansas: Two perennial Big 12 contenders square off in a matchup that could carry major conference championship implications. Texas Tech and Kansas have established themselves among the conference’s premier programs, setting the stage for a marquee showdown inside Allen Fieldhouse.
- Saturday, Feb. 13
- North Carolina at No. 2 Duke: College basketball’s most iconic rivalry returns to the national spotlight on Super Saturday when North Carolina visits Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils split last season’s series, and the latest chapter between the Tobacco Road powers is expected to once again carry major ACC and national significance.
- Saturday, Feb. 27
- No. 1 Florida at No. 10 Arkansas: Two of the SEC’s top programs meet in Fayetteville as Florida takes on Arkansas in a matchup featuring national championship aspirations and one of college basketball’s toughest home-court environments. The showdown at Bud Walton Arena could have major implications in the conference race.