Last season, Creighton Basketball finished with a total of 25 wins, advancing to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. They’re one of a few Big East teams that tend to schedule tough non-conference opponents, with last season’s examples including Alabama, Texas A&M, and then-No. 1 Kansas, whom the Bluejays managed to beat.
Our 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule is Here 📆
— Creighton Men’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) July 15, 2025
🔗: https://t.co/b1DYLXs3nq#GoJays pic.twitter.com/LpbGMr0SuF
The schedule for Creighton before Big East play is now out, including their participation in the second annual Players Era Tournament, with two of the three games in that MTE set. Here’s a power ranking of the team’s five toughest opponents to watch.
5. Kansas State (H)
This will be a battle of the backcourts, as Kansas State will be led by a pair of Conference Player of the Year guards in PJ Haggerty (21 ppg) and Nate Johnson (Akron). If 20 ppg Monmouth transfer wing Abdi Bashir Jr. can have an impact, then the Wildcats will be a formidable foe to watch.
4. Nebraska (A)
Creighton and Nebraska have had one of the better non-con rivalries in the past few years. The Cornhuskers lost their top players but do bring back forward Rienk Mast, along with transfers including guards Kendall Blue and Jamarques Lawrence. Replacing star guard Brice Williams will be tough, but expect Nebraska to still be a tough out on the road.
3. Baylor (N)
The Bears have a completely new roster for next season, including key guard transfers, Cameron Carr (Tennessee) and Michael Rataj, an all-league forward from Oregon State. If 5-star freshman wing Tounde Yessoufou can become the next young star for the Bears, then they’ll be much better compared to last year.
2. Iowa State (N)
The Cyclones bring back a trio of starters, including point guard Tamin Lipsey and forwards Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic. The season-ending injury to transfer guard Mason Williams hurts their depth, but as long as UVU guard and WAC POY Dominick Nelson is an impact player, Iowa State will remain a top-tier Big 12 team.
1. Gonzaga (A)
The Bulldogs bring back star center Graham Ike, along with transfers such as Adam Miller, Braeden Smith, and return former Big Sky Player of the Year wing, Steele Venters. Gonzaga has consistently been one of the top teams in college basketball, and with the game being played in the Kennel, it’s going to be a tough game for the Bluejays to pull out.