This upcoming season is crucial for Notre Dame Basketball, as they aim to be a postseason contender in the ACC. Last year, a five-game losing streak, including a setback to Elon, hurt the Irish's chances of making the NCAA Tournament.
This time around, Notre Dame looks to get off to a better start in the non-con. The schedule has been released, including their participation in the Players Era Festival. Here’s a look at the four toughest matchups for them in the non-con.
Schedule drop‼️
— Notre Dame Men's Basketball (@NDmbb) July 23, 2025
The wait is over. Our 2025-26 non-conference matchups are locked🔒#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/wfznPTQTo9
4. TCU Horned Frogs
Most of the top players for TCU left this offseason, but a case can be made that they upgraded, at least in the backcourt. Transfers Brock Harding (Iowa), Jayden Pierre (Providence), and Tanner Toolson (UVU) give them lots of firepower on offense. The frontcourt is more unknown but if they can produce, this could be an NCAA Tournament threat.
3. Missouri Tigers
The top returning piece for the Tigers is Mark Mitchell, a former Duke forward who produced 14 ppg last season. Returning guard Anthony Robinson and UCLA transfer Sebastian Mack are the projected lead guards, while frontcourt transfers Jevon Porter and Shawn Phillips will be asked to give them frontcourt depth. Four-star freshman guard Aaron Rowe is another talented newcomer to watch.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes have an underrated roster talent-wise, as they bring back all-league guard Bruce Thornton, and a pair of double-digit key pieces in John Mobley Jr. and Devin Royal. The new-look frontcourt is where the questions lie, but if Wright State transfer forward and 20 scorer Brandon Noel can give them interior production, OSU will be a very potent roster.
1. Kansas Jayhawks
Once the pod pairings for the Players Era Festival came out, it was clear who the No. 1 team would be for Notre Dame. Kansas is a perennial Final Four threat, and next year should be no different, led by 5-star freshman guard prospect Darryn Peterson. Sophomore center Flory Bindunga will be a breakout candidate to watch, while transfers Tre White (Illinois), Jayden Dawson (Loyola-Chicago), and Melvin Council (St. Bonaventure) are all solid rotation newcomers on the perimeter. If the Irish can pull off this upset, it would be as good a win for their resume as possible.