The Yale Bulldogs are off to an impressive 11-1 start and have won eight straight games, firmly establishing themselves as the Ivy League favorite early in the 2025–26 season. Now, they enter a strange stretch on the calendar.
Momentum Meets an Unusual Pause
Yale will have more than two weeks off during the holidays, an extended break that comes while the Bulldogs are playing some of their best basketball. Head coach James Jones welcomes the chance to recharge, but he also understands the challenge of maintaining rhythm when momentum is paused.
A High-End Measuring Stick in Tuscaloosa
There will be no easing back into action once Yale returns. The Bulldogs’ next game is scheduled for December 29 on the road against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Alabama is widely viewed as one of the top contenders in the SEC and a legitimate Final Four threat. For Yale, this matchup offers a rare opportunity to test itself against elite athleticism, depth, and speed on a national stage.
Yale last took the floor on December 10 at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the Bulldogs earned a 93-82 win over Albany. Jordan Brathwaite anchored the offense with 16 points and seven rebounds in that victory.
Winning Without the Spotlight
Unlike many NCAA Tournament hopefuls, Yale operates far from packed arenas and national glare. The Bulldogs play their home games in a compact environment, with a capacity crowd of just 2,532 at their home gym.
Yale embraces the cozy setting and hopes to make it a difficult place for opponents, especially as winter settles into the Northeast. That said, the Bulldogs will not return home until January 17, when Cornell visits in a key Ivy League matchup.
Ivy League Tests Will Shape the Race
Before that home return, Yale opens the 2026 portion of its schedule with road games at Brown and Princeton, two contests that will immediately impact the Ivy League standings.
Columbia enters the holiday break with only two losses and figures to be one of Yale’s biggest challengers. The Bulldogs will host the Lions on January 19 before traveling to New York for the rematch on February 28.
A Program Built for March
Yale is chasing its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2024, the Bulldogs stunned Auburn in the first round before falling to San Diego State. Last season, Yale entered the tournament as a No. 13 seed and lost by nine points to Texas A&M.
Overall, Yale owns a 2-9 record in NCAA Tournament play, but recent success has shifted expectations from simply qualifying to winning games in March.
What the Bulldogs Do Next Will Shape the Narrative
James Jones has been at Yale since 1999 and remains one of the most accomplished coaches in Ivy League history. He has guided the Bulldogs to seven regular-season conference titles and is seeking his fifth Ivy League Tournament championship this season.
A year ago, Yale finished 22-8 and extended its streak of 20-win seasons to three straight. This season’s fast start has once again raised expectations in New Haven.
Yale has already proven it can win consistently. How the Bulldogs handle a long layoff, a major non-conference test, and the grind of Ivy League play will determine whether this team simply has a strong season or creates another defining chapter in program history.