While college football funnels into bowl season, college basketball builds to racing speed. There are a lot of interesting looks spread around the Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedules. Two matchups pull from the AP poll’s top 10 — Duke visits Michigan State, as Iowa State tests No. 1 Purdue. Elsewhere, second-ranked Arizona risks its unbeaten record as it hosts Auburn, and the Border Showdown gets renewed for national viewership. Here are the forthcoming games to follow.
All times ET.
Men’s college basketball weekend schedule
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|
GAME |
TIME |
TV |
STREAM |
|
Gonzaga at Kentucky |
7 p.m., Fri. |
ESPN2 |
|
|
Cincinnati at Xavier |
7:30 p.m., Fri. |
TNT |
Max |
|
Iowa St. at Purdue |
Noon, Sat. |
CBS |
|
|
Duke at Michigan St. |
Noon, Sat. |
Fox |
|
|
Marquette at Wisconsin |
2 p.m., Sat. |
FS1 |
|
|
Louisville vs. Indiana |
2:15 p.m., Sat. |
CBS |
|
|
Colorado at Colorado St. |
5 p.m., Sat. |
CBSSN |
|
|
Illinois vs. Tennessee |
8 p.m., Sat. |
ESPN |
|
|
Auburn at Arizona |
10 p.m., Sat. |
ESPN |
|
|
Missouri vs. Kansas |
1 p.m., Sun. |
ESPN2 |
|
|
Georgetown at UNC |
5 p.m., Sun. |
ESPN |
|
|
Creighton at Nebraska |
5 p.m., Sun. |
FS1 |
CBS and Fox are free over the air. ESPN and ESPN2 also stream on ESPN Unlimited, and FS1 streams on Fox One.
No. 11 Gonzaga at No. 18 Kentucky
Friday, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Why to watch it: There’s nothing like an urgent home game before conference schedules even take hold. Kentucky already has three ranked losses; their latest was a 67-64 stinger from UNC on Tuesday night. Mark Pope needs a win to break the pressure and diffuse the tension. Mark Few goes for his 750th career win from the other sideline. As always, Gonzaga’s offense cuts point-at-the-TV highlights:
Look out below pic.twitter.com/TAH6D9ZAYW
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) November 25, 2025
Cincinnati at Xavier
Friday, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Why to watch it: A propulsive local rivalry that pulls from Bob Huggins, Skip Prosser and vats of Skyline Chili. Cincinnati has not won in Xavier’s gym since December 2001. Those packing in the Cintas Center for the Crosstown Shootout will be on full tilt Friday.
No. 10 Iowa State at No. 1 Purdue
Saturday, noon, CBS
Why to watch it: Return of the Mack(ey). While Indiana goes for the Big Ten football championship, Purdue’s faithful will gladly turn to their top-ranked basketball team. The Boilermakers hit this weekend with the nation’s most efficient offense, per KenPom’s ratings. There’s loyalty and consistency around the trio of seniors: perimeter heat-seeker Fletcher Loyer, double-double forward Trey Kaufman-Renn and facilitator Braden Smith. The Cyclones play their usual smother-and-swipe defense under T.J. Otzelberger, but scoring has been better than expected across the early returns.
Iowa State as Brendan Marks’ surprise squad: “Iowa State’s offensive balance — even without star guard Tamin Lipsey, who missed the team’s final two games of Players Era Festival with a groin injury — has been arguably just as impressive. Four different Cyclones (including Lipsey) average double figures, and Otzelberger’s team as a whole is shooting over 60 percent on 2-pointers, a top-25 mark nationally.”
No. 4 Duke at No. 7 Michigan State
Saturday, noon on Fox
Why to watch it: So many reasons. It’s the headliner of a very stacked weekend. The Blue Devils are 9-0, already with spirited defeats of Kansas, Florida and Arkansas. Sparty is 8-0, with ranked Ws versus UNC, Kentucky and Arkansas (sorry, Arkansas). Duke’s Cameron Boozer is making his case for No. 1 pick status. MSU’s Jeremy Fears Jr. is a dimer. The Breslin Center will boom for Big Noon Tipoff (that’s what it’s called, right?).
Michigan State as Brendan Marks’ other surprise so far: “After Tuesday night, only three teams in the country have three wins over ranked foes: UConn, Duke … and Michigan State, which is 8-0 for the first time since 2016. Coach Tom Izzo’s program was expected to take a step back this season after losing Jase Richardson to the NBA Draft; instead, Sparty has had one of the strongest identities of any team in America through the first month of the season. Per Bart Torvik, MSU has the third-best adjusted defensive efficiency in the country to date — trailing only Michigan and Houston — while ranking top 20 in offensive and defensive rebounding rate.”
Marquette at Wisconsin
Saturday, 2 p.m. on FS1
Why to watch it: It’s the cold, dairy-based I-94 rivalry, which dates all the way back to 1917. Marquette broke a three-year losing streak in an emotional and cathartic home win last December. Wisconsin goes for revenge served cold at the Kohl Center. Badgers junior John Blackwell had 30 points versus TCU on Nov. 28, then another 26 against Northwestern on Wednesday.
No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 22 Indiana
Saturday, 2:15 p.m. on CBS
Why to watch it: What a Saturday for the Indiana Hoosiers. The 12-0 football team makes its Big Ten title game debut at Lucas Oil Stadium. Just a few hours before and a few blocks down, the 7-1 basketball team has a statement game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. No. 6 Louisville just lost to Arkansas in the ACC/SEC challenge, but the Cardinals still have a top-10 scoring offense heading into the weekend.
Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville) at No. 5 on Sam Vecenie’s updated NBA mock draft: “Brown’s blend of passing and shooting is seen as elite among the draft class, and his name comes up most often as the No. 5 player behind what seems to be a consensus top four. Scouts love Brown’s blend of explosiveness going toward the rim mixed with his skill level and live-dribble passing ability. He will need to iron out his efficiency going toward the rim, though.”
Colorado at Colorado State
Saturday, 5 p.m., CBSSN
Why to watch it: Intrastate rivalries get oxidized in Fort Collins. The “Ramily” has requested a “green out,” which should be visually refreshing. Colorado is undefeated and freshman Isaiah Johnson is the Buffs’ leading scorer, doing so from the bench on a ridiculous 57.4/54.5 percent shooting split.
No. 14 Illinois vs. No. 13 Tennessee
Saturday, 8 p.m., ESPN
Why to watch it: Tennessee brings high-quality chaos to a chaotic sport. The Vols’ last three results: beat Houston by three, then lost to Kansas by five and to Syracuse by two. Next up: the “Music City Madness” game in Nashville. Illinois has an ultra-watchable offense. Champaign native Kylan Boswell is headstrong, and Andrej Stojaković gracefully weaves to the cup:
Andrej Stojakovic put on a show tonight in Champaign 🤩
23 points in 26 minutes off the bench 🔥 @IlliniMBB pic.twitter.com/CrVUtWnkR7
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) November 12, 2025
No. 20 Auburn at No. 2 Arizona
Saturday, 10 p.m., ESPN
Why to watch it: Two ranked programs, one of which is making its bid for best in the country. Arizona is 7-0 behind Koa Peat’s buoyancy and Jaden Bradley’s flash. That freshman-senior scoring duo has risen to the challenge in wins against No. 3 Florida, No. 3 UConn and No. 15 UCLA. Auburn’s two blemishes are to No. 1 Houston (by one point) and No. 7 Michigan (by a lot more than one point). Sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford can fly.
Missouri vs. No. 21 Kansas
Sunday, 1 p.m., ESPN2
Why to watch it: It’s the Border Showdown. The raw, uncut hate between these sides has spilled into its second century. It’s been an early head rush for Kansas: a five-point win against ranked Tennessee last week, then a five-point loss to ranked UConn on Tuesday. The neutral-site T-Mobile Center is a 40-something minute drive from Lawrence and about two hours from Columbia.
Georgetown at No. 16 North Carolina
Sunday, 5 p.m., ESPN
Why to watch it: Because good UNC basketball lights up Chapel Hill, and the Carolina blue bursts off the screen. It’s also an excuse to rewatch the Hoyas-Heels 1982 classic, the moment “when Mike became Michael Jordan.”
Caleb Wilson (UNC) at No. 4 on Sam Vecenie’s updated NBA mock draft: “Wilson’s athleticism and production have popped in a big way this season, as the power forward has averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds while flying around the court for the Tar Heels. Simply put, he’s an imposing athletic presence with serious vertical explosion and speed who is extremely difficult to stay in front of.”
Creighton at Nebraska
Sunday, 5 p.m., FS1
Why to watch it: Nebraskan nemeses! These neighboring programs have matched up at least once a year since 1977. Coach Greg McDermott is 11-4 against Nebraska while at Creighton. The Cornhuskers are 8-0 to start the season, and the 6-foot-10 Rienk Mast is a fun pass-and-pop big man:
Nice pass‼️
Rienk Mast’s behind-the-back dime sets up the big Cale Jacobsen @HuskerMBB trey.
📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/Kawld0ZbWz
— Big Ten Men’s Basketball (@B1GMBBall) November 16, 2025
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