Louisville basketball schedule 2026-27, early look at UofL opponents

Louisville basketball took another step forward in Year 2 under coach Pat Kelsey — winning its first NCAA Tournament game since 2017 . But, for all that talk last summer of " not ducking the smoke ," the Cardinals left a lot to be desired for a team that began the season ranked 10th in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll . With a tougher nonconference schedule and an improved ACC , UofL played nine more Quad 1 games in 2025-26 (20) than it did in 2024-25 (11).

It finished two games under . 500 in those matchups, 9-11, and mustered only one win in 10 tries against Quad 1A opponents — the elite tier among which it's hoping to reestablish itself. To get there, Louisville needs another schedule that will test the members of Kelsey's overhauled roster early and often.

Here's a way-too-early look at how the 2026-27 slate is coming together: Louisville basketball's 2026-27 nonconference schedule Let's start here: In locking down last season's blockbuster preseason exhibition vs. Kansas at the KFC Yum! Center , Louisville agreed to visit Allen Fieldhouse for a rematch before the 2026-27 campaign officially tips off.

As is the case with every upcoming game you'll read about here, a date for this one had not been announced at the time of publication. The Cards are on the books to run it back against four nonconference foes they swept in 2025-26: Baylor, Cincinnati, Kentucky and Memphis. Of this group, only the Wildcats reached March Madness.