Champions Classic extended through 2025

I hope you like the Champions Classic because it’s here to stay…at least through 2025. This morning, ESPN Events announced the series has been renewed for three more years through 2025 with the four participating programs, Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, and Michigan State. It will continue to rotate among New York City (2021), Indianapolis (2022), and other sites, with the 2023-25 venues to be announced at a later date. 

The Champions Classic began in 2011 and annually ranks among the most-viewed college basketball games of the season. The 2019 event averaged 2.3 million viewers on ESPN. Since the Champions Classic began in 2011, all four teams have reached the Final Four at least once, with Kentucky (2011-12) and Duke (2014-15) winning national titles.

No. 3 Kansas vs. Michigan State tips things off tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. No. 10 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Duke follows 30 minutes after that game’s conclusion, approximately 9:30 p.m. (although we all know it’ll be closer to 10 p.m.).

Future Champions Classic Matchups

2022 (Indianapolis, Ind.)

Kentucky vs. Michigan State

Duke vs. Kansas

2023

Michigan State vs. Duke

Kansas vs. Kentucky

2024

Kansas vs. Michigan State

Kentucky vs. Duke

2025

Michigan State vs. Kentucky

Kansas vs. Duke

* 2023-25 tournament sites TBD