The 2026-27 college basketball season is already off to a good start, with Notre Dame pulling off the upset over Villanova in Rome on Sunday morning. But the season doesn’t truly get going until there are dozens of games tipping off at the same time in the evening.
While the vast majority of games are between high-majors against low-major opponents, there are still some quality matchups that are must-see on Monday. Here’s a look at the top five most important games.
1. No. 14 Miami vs No. 1 Florida - 6 pm ET. (ESPN2)
The preseason AP No. 1 team having a real opponent on opening night is a massive win for college basketball fans. And the Hurricanes have the potential to be better than their current ranking, as last year’s best player Malik Reneau (18.9 ppg and 6.5 rpg) is currently eligible to play. He goes up against one of the top frontcourts in the country, with the Gators returning all three star forwards and centers from last year’s SEC regular season champion. After a rough preseason by their standards, Florida could be vulnerable.
2. No. 5 Arizona vs No. 22 UCLA - 10 pm ET. (TNT)
The other ranked battle of the night comes out west. It’s a battle of the top-tier freshmen, with five-star guard Caleb Holt going up against Nikola Kursturica, one of the top international newcomers of the offseason. A key to the battle will be how well UCLA’s smaller frontcourt deals with returning forwards, Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas inside. The sophomore point guard battle between Jaylen Petty (UCLA) and Derek Dixon (UCLA) also will be important to the game.
3. No. 15 Gonzaga vs Purdue - 7:30 pm ET. (TNT)
Purdue has had Gonzaga’s number in the past but they’re without superstars Zach Edey and Braden Smith. It’s a completely new cast of Boilermakers, with plenty of questions as to who’ll be the key players this season. There are fewer questions on the Bulldogs’ side, with center forward Braden Huff and sophomore guard Davis Fogle set to be the lead focal points on offense. Gonzaga will be the favorite but can Coach Matt Painter find a way to put them on upset watch?
4. Ohio State vs No. 25 BYU - 9 pm ET. (FS1)
Both teams bring back key lead guards from last season, with BYU’s Robert Wright III (18.1 ppg and 4.6 apg) going up against John Mobley Jr. (15.7 ppg), now the lead guard for Ohio State with Bruce Thornton now gone. But while the Cougars’ supporting cast is more clear, including five-star wing Bruce Branch, the Buckeyes will be looking to see who other focal points of the offense will emerge, starting on Monday.
5. Memphis vs No. 18 Iowa State - 7 pm ET. (FS1)
The last game featuring high-major caliber opponents includes Memphis, a program with a history of pulling off notable non-conference wins. Their new-look roster takes on Iowa State, which currently has star point guard Tamin Lipsey eligible for the game. The Cyclones will be favored but the Tigers will be looking for a resume-building win on opening night.
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