Report: Louisville, Tennessee agree to home-and-home series beginning in 2024-25 season

According to Jon Rothstein, Louisville and Tennessee will begin a home-and-home series this upcoming season, with the Cardinals playing host. Knoxville will then be the site at some point in the 2025-2026 campaign, setting up a fun battle between two of college basketball’s top programs.

“Tennessee and Louisville will start a home-and-home series next season at the KFC Yum Center, a source told College Hoops Today,” Rothstein said. “An official announcement is expected soon. There will be a return game in Knoxville during the 2025-26 season.”

Louisville is hoping to be entering a new era with Pat Kelsey at the helm, moving on from Kenny Payne this offseason. The program has not been in a good spot, winning just 12 total games in the two seasons Payne was in charge.

Three consecutive losing seasons had not happened since pre-World War II. Making the NCAA Tournament is usually a staple for Louisville, most recently winning a national championship in 2013 — even if it’s vacated.

But the program has not been a part of the big dance since 2019, missing four straight.

As for Tennessee, Rick Barnes brought them to new heights both during the regular season and NCAA Tournament. The Volunteers won the SEC regular season championship and were in contention for the school’s first-ever one-seed. Eventually given a two-seed, Barnes led them to an Elite Eight for just the second time ever.

Looking ahead to next season, Tennessee finds itself ranked in way-too-early top 25 rankings from On3’s James Fletcher. He has them ranked at No. 15 and fourth among teams competing in the SEC next season. Yes, Dalton Knecht will be in the NBA but Barnes will still have a nice mix of experienced players from within the program and nice finds in the NCAA transfer portal.

Kelsey’s squad does not see itself ranked by Fletcher, still undergoing a rebuilding process after where Payne left the Cardinals. The roster is being completely made from scratch, with nine transfers entering and one recruit. A lot of offseason bonding will need to occur before stepping onto the court this winter.

Even through some dark times, the KFC Yum Center has been one of college basketball’s best venues. Bringing a brand such as Tennessee into town should cause a lot of early-season buzz for Louisville. Getting a win would also be a statement for Kelsey based on the preseason expectations surrounding the Vols.