Year one under John Calipari was massive in terms of visibility. He arranged for Arkansas to play prominent nonconference games against Baylor, Illinois, and Michigan during the 2024-25 season. But that was nothing compared to what Calipari has planned for year two. The nonconference schedule for Arkansas basketball is getting wild.
Arkansas basketball to face Texas Tech in Dallas
According to reports, the Hardwood Hogs have a date with Texas Tech in Dallas. It's a revenge game in the making after the Red Raiders ended Arkansas' season in March. In one of the many heartbreaking results of this athletic season, Arkansas basketball entered the final four minutes of the Sweet Sixteen matchup up by 10 points but went cold offensively. It was enough for Tech to sneak back into the game, tie it up, and win in overtime.
With Trevon Brazile, Karter Knox, Billy Richmond, and D.J. Wagner from Arkansas returning and J.T. Toppin and Christian Anderson from Tech back in Lubbock, the intensity will likely be off the charts. Still, that's only one electric game in a bevy that's planned for this year.
NEWS: Arkansas and Texas Tech are finalizing an agreement to meet on December 13th at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, according to multiple sources.https://t.co/lrVEAjwqgC
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 20, 2025
Arkansas will also play two additional neutral-site games: one in Chicago against Duke on Thanksgiving and another in Brooklyn, New York, at the Barclays Center against Houston. All three (New York, Chicago, and Dallas) are opportunities to extend the brand of Arkansas basketball in some of the most pro-basketball cities in the country.
The neutral-site games are outstanding, but the nonconference gems don't stop there. Arkansas will play Baylor in Fayetteville for another rematch from last season. For the ACC/SEC Challenge, the Hogs will also host Lousiville, another NCAA team, this past March. And finally, Arkansas will travel to Lancing to play Michigan State.