The University of Missouri men’s basketball team is gearing up for an electrifying 2025-26 season, with a non-conference schedule and Southeastern Conference (SEC) lineup that promises to be one of the most challenging in school history. For the first time ever, Mizzou will host 10 teams in Columbia that competed in last season’s NCAA Tournament, setting the stage for an unforgettable year at Mizzou Arena.
A Daunting Schedule Packed with NCAA Tournament Talent
The Tigers will face a whopping 19 NCAA Tournament teams from the 2025 season out of their 31 scheduled games. This marks only the second time in program history that Mizzou will play more than seven tournament teams at home, with the first being the 1988-89 season when nine such teams visited Hearnes Center. This year’s slate is a testament to the program’s ambition under fourth-year head coach Dennis Gates, who led the Tigers to their second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years last season.
Kicking Off with a Historic Early Start
The season tips off earlier than ever before, with Mizzou hitting the road to face Howard on Monday, November 3—the earliest season opener in school history. The team returns to Columbia for their home opener on November 7 against in-state rival Southeast Missouri, kicking off a seven-game homestand. Fans can look forward to matchups against VMI (Nov. 9), Minnesota (Nov. 12), Prairie View A&M (Nov. 17), South Dakota (Nov. 20), South Carolina State (Nov. 25), and Cleveland State (Nov. 28) during this exciting stretch.
Rivalries and Road Challenges
December brings high-stakes road and neutral-site games. On December 2, Mizzou travels to face Notre Dame in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Tigers will also renew two iconic rivalries: the Border War against Kansas in Kansas City on December 7 and the Braggin’ Rights showdown against Illinois in St. Louis on December 22. Sandwiched between these are home games against Alabama State (Dec. 11) and Bethune-Cookman (Dec. 14).
SEC Showdowns: A Conference of Champions
As the calendar flips to 2026, Mizzou dives into SEC play, facing a conference that sent a record 14 teams to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Tigers will take on Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma both at home and away—all three made the Big Dance last year. Mizzou Arena will also welcome defending national champion Florida, Final Four participant Auburn, and four other NCAA Tournament teams: Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Vanderbilt. On the road, the Tigers will battle Alabama, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Texas A&M.
Building on Last Season’s Success
Under Coach Gates’ leadership, Mizzou is coming off a remarkable 2024-25 season, where they defeated three top-five teams in a single year for the first time since 1988-89 and finished sixth in the SEC’s historic campaign. With this challenging 2025-26 schedule, the Tigers are poised to make more history and aim for another deep run in March Madness.
Mizzou fans, get ready—this season is shaping up to be one for the record books!
