Top 20 College Basketball Games in November
Summary
The 2025-26 college basketball season begins on November 3rd, highlighted by the Hall of Fame Series. Defending national champion Florida, ranked 3rd, will face 13th-ranked Arizona in Las Vegas. The event also includes a game between BYU and Villanova. Florida returns two starters from its title-winning team, while Arizona brings back three starters under coach Tommy Lloyd.
Other major early-season matchups include St. John’s vs. Alabama on November 8th and a Champions Classic doubleheader on November 18th featuring Duke vs. Kansas and Kentucky vs. Michigan State. A significant multi-team event, the Players Era Championship, will take place in Las Vegas from November 24th-26th. This tournament will include ten ranked teams, such as Alabama, Houston, and St. John’s, competing in 27 games over four days.
The 2025-26 college basketball season begins Nov. 3 and defending national champion Florida tips off against Arizona in Las Vegas as part of the Hall of Fame Series operated by Position Sports. The Florida Gators open the season ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll, and Arizona is No. 13. The four team HOF Series also includes the nightcap on Nov. 3 at T-Mobile Arena between BYU and Villanova.
Nov. 3 – No. 3 Florida vs. No. 13 Arizona at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV
Florida returns two starters from a 36-4 team that won the national championship. Head coach Todd Golden guided the Gators to a NCAA Tournament title following a 14-4 second place finish in the rugged SEC and then winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Gators were the first time in the modern era to win a national title without a single top 100 recruit. They were built mostly on transfers from other schools. Blue Ribbon rates the Gators front court (A+) and backcourt (A) highly along with bench depth (A).
Arizona went 24-13 last season, and after a slow start at 4-5 to fall out of the Top 25 rankings, the Wildcats began their improved play and finished tied for third (14-6) in the Big 12 with BYU. Head coach Tommy Lloyd enters his fifth season in Tucson and the Wildcats have won 33, 28, 27 and 24 games under his leadership. The Wildcats have plateaued in the Sweet 16 in three of four seasons under Lloyd including once as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats return three starters and rate highly in the back court (A-), front court (B+) and solid depth (A-). Â
Nov. 8 – No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 15 Alabama at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Both teams earned No. 2 seeds in the 2025 NCAA Tournament and finished the year ranked top-11 in the final edition of the Associated Press Top-25 Poll. National Coach of the Year (2024-25) Rick Pitino guided the St. John’s to a perfect 12-0 record last season on their home court at Madison Square Garden, and the Red Storm went on to win the Big East regular season (18-2) and tournament championships and finished 31-5. St. John’s has just one returning starter in Pitino’s third season at the school. But with transfers and recruits clamoring to play for Pitino and St. John’s, the Red Storm earn strong ratings in their front court (A+), back court (A) and bench/depth (A).
Nate Oats enters his seventh season at Alabama and the Crimson Tide have won 31, 25 and 28 games the past three seasons including a Final Four appearance in 2023-24 and Elite Eight in last year’s NCAA Tournament that followed a third place (13-5) finish in the SEC while leading the country in scoring. Just one starter returns with strength in the back court (A) and solid front court (B) and depth (B). If you’re eyeing Alabama early in the season or following SEC contenders, the college basketball odds page at BetOnline offers a full slate of lines and futures. But Oats believes this is the best shooting team he’s ever coached with 3-point shooters at all five positions and a couple more coming off the bench.
Nov. 11 – No. 9 Kentucky at No. 11 Louisville
Nov. 13 – No. 1 Purdue at No. 15 Alabama
The Hall of Fame Series continues with another singular showcase non-conference matchup with 2022-23 and 2023-24 national champion UCONN taking on BYU.
Nov. 15 – Connecticut vs. BYU at TD Garden in Boston, MA
The 4-team Champions Classic in New York is a doubleheader played at Madison Square Garden.
Nov. 18 – No. 6 Duke vs. No. 19 Kansas
Nov. 18 – No. 9 Kentucky vs. No. 22 Michigan State
The 8-team Maui Invitational is Nov. 24-26
Nov. 24 – USC vs. Boise State
The NIL-driven Players Era Men’s Championship is a multi-team event with 27 games across four days producing one champion. Opening games are played over Thanksgiving week starting Nov. 24-25 from Las Vegas at MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort – home of the 3-time WNBA world champions Las Vegas Aces. The loaded lineup includes ten college basketball teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll.
Nov. 24 – No. 15 Alabama vs. No. 21 Gonzaga
Nov. 24 – No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 16 Iowa State
Nov. 24 – No. 2 Houston vs. Syracuse
Nov. 24 – No. 19 Kansas vs. Notre Dame
Nov. 24 – No. 18 Tennessee vs. Rutgers
Nov. 24 – No. 20 Auburn vs. No. 27 Oregon
Nov. 24 – No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 28 San Diego State
Nov. 24 – No. 23 Creighton vs. Baylor
Nov. 24 – UNLV vs. Maryland
Nov. 25 – No. 2 Houston vs. No. 18 Tennessee
Nov. 25 – No. 16 Iowa State vs. No. 23 Creighton
Nov. 25 – No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 20 Auburn
Consolation games along with the Premier Four 3rd place and championship game for the Players Era event is Nov. 26.
