Kansas head coach Bill Self talks with media members during a press conference following the NCAA selection show on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Photo by Nick Krug

The Kansas men’s basketball schedule is now complete with the release of the full Big 12 slate on Thursday afternoon.

Despite some persistent rumblings that the conference might soon return to a 20-game schedule, KU will again play 18 games against its league foes this season with one open date, and it all begins on Jan. 2 against West Virginia at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks will hope for a better outcome in that one than when they snapped a lengthy win streak in home conference openers by falling in dramatic fashion to WVU two seasons ago. They will then try their hand at another two-game swing when they travel to Utah (Jan. 6) and BYU (Jan. 9).

KU will host consecutive home games against Colorado (Jan. 13), led by former Jayhawk Tad Boyle, and UCF (Jan. 16), then attack a pair of road matchups with teams that hired new coaches: Cincinnati (Jan. 19), which brought in Utah State’s Jerrod Calhoun, and rival Kansas State (Jan. 23), which landed Belmont’s Casey Alexander.

KU’s open date leads into a one-off matchup with Oklahoma State (Jan. 30) and the previously announced Big Monday game at Houston (Feb. 1), then back to Lawrence for Texas Tech (Feb. 6) and Arizona State (Feb. 9).

The Jayhawks’ trip to Hilton Coliseum to battle Iowa State always makes for a marquee game, and for the second straight year it falls on Valentine’s Day weekend, this time on Feb. 13. Then comes a midweek home date with Baylor (Feb. 17) and a road game at Arizona (Feb. 20), which won the Big 12’s regular-season and tournament championships last season in just its second year in the conference.

KU will head quickly back on the road to TCU (Feb. 24) before completing each of its three home-and-home series against Kansas State (Feb. 27) and Iowa State (March 1) at home and Baylor (March 6) on the road.

Head coach Bill Self is back for his 24th season at the helm and looking to catapult the Jayhawks into the ranks of the elite after the 2025-26 campaign featured bright moments but a grim second-round exit. This time, he will lead a team headlined by top-ranked freshman forward Tyran Stokes that also features first-year guard Taylen Kinney; transfers Leroy Blyden Jr., Keanu Dawes, Christian Reeves and Dennis Parker Jr.; and returners Paul Mbiya and Kohl Rosario, among others.

KU begins its season against Fordham on Nov. 2.

Jan. 2 (Sat.) — vs. West Virginia

Jan. 6 (Wed.) — at Utah

Jan. 9 (Sat.) — at BYU

Jan. 13 (Wed.) — vs. Colorado

Jan. 16 (Sat.) — vs. UCF

Jan. 19 (Tue.) — at Cincinnati

Jan. 23 (Sat.) — at Kansas State

Jan. 30 (Sat.) — vs. Oklahoma State

Feb. 1 (Mon.) — at Houston

Feb. 6 (Sat.) — vs. Texas Tech

Feb. 9 (Tue.) — vs. Arizona State

Feb. 13 (Sat.) — at Iowa State

Feb. 17 (Wed.) — vs. Baylor

Feb. 20 (Sat.) — at Arizona

Feb. 24 (Wed.) — at TCU

Feb. 27 (Sat.) — vs. Kansas State

March 1 (Mon.) — vs. Iowa State

March 6 (Sat.) — at Baylor