Ranking Arkansas basketball nonconference games in Year 3 under John Calipari

Fear not, Razorbacks fans.

Arkansas basketball is right around the corner.

The calendar hasn’t reached October, but football season in Fayetteville already feels like a massive dud. In roughly six weeks, the Hog faithful will flood to Bud Walton Arena to watch John Calipari’s third season in charge. He has a roster filled with five-star freshmen, a pair of intriguing transfers and a returning star in Billy Richmond III.

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Arkansas officially released its nonconference slate earlier this month. Below is our ranking of the most intriguing matchups before SEC play begins in January.

14. Arkansas Pine Bluff, Nov. 3

12. Central Michigan, Dec. 22

Two home games against SWAC opponents are tough pills for Arkansas fans to swallow, while Central Michigan went 10-21 last year and finished in the bottom third of the MAC standings.

Calipari claimed during the offseason that major programs refused to come to Fayetteville this winter, and a soft schedule inside Bud Walton Arena is the result of those fears. Thankfully — if teams live up to their end of the bargain — Arizona, Michigan State and an ACC opponent should all play road games at Arkansas in 2027.

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These games are back-to-back on the schedule, and if last year’s numbers are any indication, these two teams will present challenges with contrasting styles. According to KenPom, UT Arlington was a top-50 team in defensive efficiency. Oakland ranked inside the top-100 in offensive efficiency.

Of course, Calipari also has history with Oakland after the Grizzlies ended the Hall of Famer’s tenure at Kentucky with a first-round upset in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. A few weeks later, Calipari was on a private jet headed for Fayetteville.

9. Oral Roberts (North Little Rock), Dec. 5

The annual trip to Simmons Bank Arena will at least break up the monotony of an underwhelming home schedule. However, Oral Roberts was putrid last season with a 10-23 record and an eighth-place finish in the Summit League.

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8. Robert…

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Publish date : 2026-09-24 16:25:00

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