The Big Ten Conference has officially revealed the home and away opponents for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season, setting the tone for what promises to be another highly competitive year of college hoops. With the recent expansion of the league and continued realignment, the release carries added significance as programs begin to map out their paths to a conference title and potential NCAA Tournament berths.
The 2025-26 schedule will once again feature a 20-game conference slate for each team, with a balanced mix of home and away games. While dates and tip-off times will be announced at a later date, this early release of opponents provides a tantalizing preview of key matchups and potential storylines.
Among the most anticipated rivalries, Michigan and Michigan State will meet twice, continuing one of the conference’s fiercest showdowns. Indiana and Purdue are also set for a home-and-home series, keeping alive the storied tradition of the Crossroads Rivalry. Meanwhile, defending Big Ten champion Illinois will face tough road tests at Maryland, Wisconsin, and the newly competitive Nebraska squad.
Fans will also notice intriguing matchups involving recent additions to the conference. With UCLA and USC now fully integrated into the Big Ten fold, the 2025-26 schedule features a new layer of coast-to-coast competition. UCLA will travel to traditional powerhouses like Ohio State and Michigan, while USC will host Iowa and Northwestern—games that highlight the conference’s growing geographic and competitive diversity.
The announcement also opens the door to early speculation about which teams are poised to make a run. Programs like Wisconsin, Iowa, and Maryland will look to build on strong 2024-25 campaigns, while others like Minnesota and Rutgers hope to rebound and climb the standings.
For coaches and players, the schedule release marks the unofficial beginning of the new season’s preparation. Scouting, travel planning, and training strategies will begin to take shape as teams eye key stretches of their conference journey.
For fans, it’s time to circle dates, plan road trips, and start talking smack. The Big Ten’s 2025-26 season is already taking shape, and with every school facing a gauntlet of tough opponents, one thing is certain: the race for the title will be as fierce—and fun—as ever.