Kentucky could have a new opponent for the 2025 CBS Sports Classic

The CBS Sports Classic could be getting a makeover ahead of the 2024-25 college basketball season.

According to KSR’s Matt Jones, “there is some chatter around Lexington” that one of the four schools in the annual CBS Sports Classic is looking to pull out of the event entirely. Jones adds that two of the candidates as a potential replacement team would be UConn and St. John’s. Whichever team does ultimately fill in would be the Wildcats’ opponent for the upcoming season.

The CBS Sports Classic, which was established in 2014, consists of Kentucky, UCLA, North Carolina, and Ohio State. The Wildcats’ matchup for 2025 is scheduled to be UCLA. UK lost to Ohio State in 2024 and beat North Carolina in 2023, meaning UCLA was next in the rotation and could be the team removing itself from the event.

There is some chatter around Lexington that one of the teams in the CBS Classic is trying to pull out of the event

If that happens, it will be replaced (Kentucky is still playing in it) and UK will play the new team this year in Atlanta

UCONN and St Johns among choices

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 27, 2025

The CBS Sports Classic was renewed in 2022 through 2026. Site locations for the 2025 and 2026 editions have not been officially revealed, although Jones says this year’s event will be held in Atlanta.

Replacing UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic with a school like St. John’s (coached by Rick Pitino) or UConn would be a major upgrade. Both schools are led by stars at head coach and expect to have title-contending teams going into the 2025-26 season. It initially didn’t sound like the Kentucky-St. John’s matchup was going to happen, but now it appears there might be a chance it will.

Kentucky’s 2025-26 non-conference schedule (as we know it)

• vs. Michigan State (Nov. 18) | Champions Classic
• vs. Gonzaga (Dec. 5) | Nashville
• vs. Indiana (Dec. 13)
• vs. Bellarmine (Dec. 23)
• vs. UCLA (?) | CBS Sports Classic
• @ Louisville (TBD)
• SEC/ACC Challenge (TBD)
• vs. NC Central (TBD)