Kentucky, Gonzaga announce December 5th as date for Nashville showdown

Despite March for this season being two days away, a date for a matchup between two of the best in college basketball has been set for next season in December.

Per releases on Thursday, Kentucky vs. Gonzaga, the fourth game of a six-year series against one another, will be on December 5th in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mark your calendars, we have a date to face off against Gonzaga in #BBNashville.

📰🔗 – https://t.co/WToECDdHZ9 pic.twitter.com/OsfbeJIyox

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 27, 2025

Headed to Nashville and @BrdgstoneArena Next Season
📰Press Release: https://t.co/dbhFrBdGoG pic.twitter.com/eHsDrPVEvE

— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) February 27, 2025

“We are excited to continue the series with Gonzaga in Nashville next season,” Mark Pope said as part of the release from UK. “I have a ton of respect for Mark Few and his program, which has been one of the best over the last two decades. We want to continue to put our team in challenging situations and provide BBN with opportunities to see Kentucky’s team play across the country. Nashville has been good to BBN over the years, and we look forward to seeing lots of Blue in Bridgestone Arena in December.”

Tickets for the game at Bridgestone Arena will go on sale next week on March 7th at 11 a.m. EST. A tip-off time and channel won’t be announced until a later date, though, ahead of next season.

The record of the current series is 2-1 for the Bulldogs over the Wildcats. The ‘Zags won a top-five matchup at 88-72 in Spokane Arena two seasons ago behind three twenty-plus point scorers in Rasir Bolton, Drew Timme, and Julian Strawther and then won 89-85 in Rupp Arena last season in the middle of conference play behind five players in double-figures, starting with Graham Ike with 23 points.

However, rather than be at a sweep through three, Kentucky won their first earlier this season in Seattle. UK came back from 18 down to send it to overtime and win at 90-89. Ike put up 28 more points but the Wildcats were now the one with more players in double figures with Andrew Carr (19), Jaxson Robinson (18), Otega Oweh (13), Amari Williams (12), and Brandon Garrison (10).

Assuming all stays on the schedule, Kentucky vs. Gonzaga will be on the schedule the two seasons to follow as well. They will meet again in Rupp Arena in 2026-2027 and then will play for the first time in the McCarthey Athletic Center in 2027-2028.

Music City should make for a great trip for fanbases for both teams early on next season. It will make for a great game in the non-conference too with Kentucky and Gonzaga tipping it off against one another again in ’25.