They're exhibitions.
The results won't count.
We're still going to learn plenty.
College basketball's October schedule has changed dramatically, with major programs increasingly willing to test themselves against legitimate competition before the regular season.
That gives us something better than another month of guessing.
Here are 10 October exhibitions that could tell us the most about the 2026-27 season.
10. LSU At McNeese, Oct. 8
The storyline almost writes itself.
Will Wade's second stint at LSU begins with a trip to the program he previously coached, where he'll face former assistant Bill Armstrong.
But there is also basketball intrigue.
LSU's unusual roster situation has created significant uncertainty entering the season.
This will provide our first real look at what Wade actually has.
9. North Carolina Vs. USC, Oct. 9
Two fascinating programs meet in Greensboro.
North Carolina will unveil the Michael Malone era after bringing in 11 newcomers.
USC enters Year 3 under Eric Musselman with arguably his most talented Trojans roster yet.
Watch the guards, but also watch how both teams handle their rotations.
There are a lot of new pieces on both sides.
8. Florida Vs. Baylor, Oct. 18
Florida doesn't have many questions.
That's what makes this interesting.
The Gators are the current No. 1 team in CBS Sports' Top 25 And 1 and return Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu from an experienced core.
We aren't watching to determine whether Florida is talented.
We're watching to see whether the Gators already look like a championship team.
7. UConn Vs. Michigan State, Oct. 20
This feels more like a March game than an October exhibition.
UConn returns Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins while adding another intriguing collection of talent.
Michigan State brings back Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr.
Two veteran programs. Two excellent coaches.
Neither side will want to look bad.
6. Duke Vs. Tennessee, Oct. 20
This could answer two enormous questions.
Who becomes Duke's offensive alpha?
And is Tennessee's offense finally good enough to match its defense?
Duke's roster includes Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell and a loaded group of newcomers.
Tennessee added Juke Harris after he averaged 21.4 points last season at Wake Forest.
Don't worry much about the score.
Watch who gets the basketball when each team needs a basket.
5. Kansas Vs. Louisville, Oct. 21
Flory Bidunga returning to Allen Fieldhouse makes this one considerably more interesting.
Bidunga left Kansas for Louisville and now immediately gets an opportunity to face his former team.
Kansas counters with freshman superstar Tyran Stokes.
It's an exhibition with an actual storyline.
Those are the best kind.
4. Kentucky Vs. Texas Tech, Oct. 23
Kentucky needs answers in Mark Pope's third season.
This game should provide some.
Malachi Moreno is back, but the Wildcats' biggest question may be whether Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins can stabilize the backcourt.
Texas Tech should provide legitimate resistance.
If Kentucky's guards look comfortable against it, that's a meaningful development.
3. Arkansas Vs. Gonzaga, Oct. 24
Jordan Smith Jr. gets his first opportunity to play against another college team.
That's reason enough to watch.
The highly touted Arkansas freshman enters with enormous expectations.
Gonzaga provides an excellent opponent because the Bulldogs have their own breakout candidate in sophomore Davis Fogle.
This could be our first glimpse of two future stars.
2. Michigan Vs. Houston, Oct. 25
Michigan's championship team has been dramatically transformed.
Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara all became top-12 NBA Draft selections after helping the Wolverines win the national championship.
Mike Boynton now takes over a very different team.
Houston is exactly the type of opponent capable of exposing uncertainty.
The Cougars' pressure and physicality should tell us plenty about how quickly Michigan's new pieces are coming together.
1. Kansas Vs. Duke, Oct. 25
How could it be anything else?
Duke.
Allen Fieldhouse.
And six top-30 freshmen between the two rosters.
Tyran Stokes will have an opportunity to show why he arrived at Kansas with enormous expectations, while Duke gets another major test for its collection of talented newcomers.
There are frontcourt questions.
There are rotation questions.
There are questions about which freshmen are ready immediately.
And even though the final score won't count, good luck convincing anyone inside Allen Fieldhouse that Kansas-Duke doesn't matter.
For an October exhibition, it doesn't get much better.
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