Happy New Year, basketball fans.
As the calendar turns and the 2025 portion of the season fades into the rearview mirror, college basketball officially shifts into what comes next. Florida’s national championship win over Houston closed the book on a memorable 2024–25 season filled with surprises, breakout stars, and defining moments.
Now, the focus moves forward. The 2025–26 season continues to unfold, rosters are settling in, expectations are being recalibrated, and the games that will define the 2026 calendar year are quickly approaching. Every season produces a small group of matchups that rise above the rest. Some are circled months in advance because of tradition or star power. Others grow into massive games as teams prove they belong. By the time March arrives, these contests often become the measuring stick for how good teams really are.
Below is a ranking of the Top 10 college basketball games to watch in 2026, based on stakes, talent, setting, and their potential impact on the national picture.
10. BYU Cougars at Kansas Jayhawks – January 31, 2026
Even if the Big 12 race is not directly on the line, the intrigue here is undeniable. AJ Dybantsa versus Darryn Peterson is a potential preview of the top of the upcoming NBA Draft. BYU enters with just one loss on the season and sits 10th in the latest AP poll, with that lone defeat coming by one possession against UConn. Dybantsa has been sensational, averaging 23.1 points per game and coming off a triple-double performance in a 109-point outing against Eastern Washington.
Kansas has had a more uneven path, largely due to Peterson’s injuries. When he has been available, he has averaged 19.3 points per game, but he has appeared in just four contests. The Jayhawks’ three losses have come against Duke, North Carolina, and UConn. The setting adds another layer, as this game will be played inside historic Phog Allen Fieldhouse.
9. Michigan State Spartans at Nebraska Cornhuskers – January 2, 2026
This Big Ten matchup kicks off 2026 with real bite. Michigan State enters at 12-1, with its only loss coming against Duke. The Spartans have already opened league play with wins over Iowa and Penn State. Jeremy Fears Jr. continues to be a steady force, including a 21-point performance against Cornell.
Nebraska has emerged as a legitimate power, sitting at 13-0 overall. The Cornhuskers have already logged Big Ten wins over Illinois and Wisconsin, along with strong nonconference victories against Creighton, Kansas State, and Oklahoma. Rienk Mast leads Nebraska at 16.5 points per game, and this matchup offers an early measuring stick for the top of the league.
8. Villanova Wildcats at UConn Huskies – January 24, 2026
Villanova looks like the most credible challenger to UConn in the Big East race. The Wildcats are 10-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play, with losses coming to BYU and Michigan. Bryce Lindsay leads Villanova at 16.6 points per game, while Acaden Lewis adds 12.3 points and five assists.
UConn enters at 12-1 and 2-0 in league play, with its only loss coming against Arizona. The Huskies have already stacked wins over BYU, Illinois, Kansas, Florida, and Texas. Solo Ball leads the team at 15.4 points per game, while UConn’s defense stands out, allowing just 61.1 points per game. Playing in Storrs gives the Huskies a clear edge in what should be a physical, high-level matchup.
7. Michigan State Spartans at Purdue Boilermakers – February 26, 2026
Two top-ten teams meeting late in February feels like a postseason preview. Michigan State’s only loss is to Duke, while Purdue’s lone defeat came against Iowa State. Tom Izzo and Matt Painter square off once again, with both teams excelling in ball movement, guard play, and rebounding.
With the Big Ten Tournament just weeks away, this game has the potential to decide who controls the league heading into March. The setting in West Lafayette only adds to the intensity, making this a game with instant-classic potential.
6. Louisville Cardinals at North Carolina Tar Heels – February 23, 2026
Louisville enters 2026 still motivated by its first-round NCAA Tournament loss from a season ago. The Cardinals’ losses have come on the road at Arkansas and Tennessee, but they recently delivered an impressive road win at California. A January stretch that includes games at Stanford and home against Duke will reveal a lot about this group before they head to Chapel Hill.
North Carolina enters the year with just one loss, which came against Michigan State. The Tar Heels responded with a strong win over Kentucky. Freshman Caleb Wilson continues to shine, averaging 19.8 points per game. This matchup blends experience, youth, and ACC implications in a hostile environment.
5. Gonzaga Bulldogs at Saint Mary’s Gaels – February 28, 2026
It would not feel like college basketball season without Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s meeting with the West Coast Conference title at stake. This time, the Gaels get the Bulldogs at home after traveling to Spokane in late January.
Gonzaga averages 93 points per game and ranks among the nation’s best in rebounding and assists. Braden Huff leads the team at 18.1 points per game, while Braeden Smith anchors the offense. Saint Mary’s enters 2026 on a four-game winning streak after early losses to Vanderbilt and Boise State. Paulius Murauskas leads the Gaels with 18.3 points per game, and their defense continues to be a strength.
4. Iowa State Cyclones at Arizona Wildcats – March 2, 2026
Two undefeated teams meeting in early March immediately commands attention. Iowa State is 13-0, highlighted by a dominant road win at Purdue and victories over Iowa, Syracuse, Creighton, and St. John’s. The Cyclones average 90.4 points per game while allowing just 62.8.
Arizona’s résumé is just as impressive, with wins over Florida, UCLA, UConn, Auburn, and Alabama. Freshman Koa Peat averages 14.2 points per game, while Jaden Bradley adds 13.4. Arizona also excels in ball movement and rebounding, making this a potential Final Four preview.
3. Arizona Wildcats at Houston Cougars – February 21, 2026
Tommy Lloyd versus Kelvin Sampson is always must-watch basketball. Arizona navigates one of the toughest stretches in the country leading into this game, facing a gauntlet of Big 12 opponents. Houston enters with just one loss, a narrow defeat against Tennessee, and has since rattled off six straight wins.
The Cougars remain elite defensively, allowing just 60 points per game. Emanuel Sharp leads the offense at 17 points per game, with Kingston Flemings adding 15.3 points and 4.9 assists. This game carries Big 12 and national title implications.
2. Michigan Wolverines at Duke Blue Devils – February 21, 2026
Michigan’s offense has been overwhelming. The Wolverines have scored 100 or more points in seven of their first 12 games and average 96.8 points per contest, third nationally. They also rank among the best in assists and rebounding, with no clear weaknesses so far.
Duke enters at 11-1, with its only loss coming against Texas Tech. Freshman Cameron Boozer leads the Blue Devils at 23.2 points per game. A trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium presents Michigan with its toughest test yet, and this matchup feels like a Final Four-caliber game.
1. North Carolina Tar Heels at Duke Blue Devils – March 7, 2026
There is no better way to close the regular season. North Carolina and Duke meet for the second time, this time in Durham, with ACC standings, rivalry pride, and postseason positioning all in play. The possibility of additional meetings in the ACC Tournament or NCAA Tournament only adds to the intrigue.
This matchup features another chapter in the Boozer versus Wilson freshman showdown and carries all the emotion and intensity that defines this rivalry. When the stakes are highest, college basketball rarely offers a bigger stage.
The Games That Will Shape 2026
Every season has turning points. These are the nights when expectations meet reality, contenders separate, and legacies begin to take form. As 2026 unfolds, these games stand out as the matchups most likely to define the year ahead. When the season ends and a champion is crowned, these will be the checkpoints fans look back on as the moments that shaped the story of 2026.
Happy New Year.