SEC unveils league opponents for Kentucky in 2024-25

It’s official: John Calipari is returning to Lexington in Mark Pope’s debut season at Kentucky, but there will not be a follow-up trip to Arkansas. Despite the storylines it would bring, the SEC opted against a third consecutive year with a home-and-home between the Wildcats and Razorbacks for a non-permanent rotator.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a ton to love about the remaining conference schedule elsewhere, though, the league announcing all 18 opponents for Kentucky in the SEC. Among them? All 15 teams within the conference, along with home-and-homes with Alabama, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

The 18-game slate now includes both Oklahoma and Texas, both games being played on the road for the Wildcats — firsts for the respective programs. Kentucky will play nine apiece both at home inside Rupp Arena and on the road.

While the home-and-home with Alabama is the first since 2021-22, the pair of matchups vs. Tennessee and Vanderbilt will extend two of the longest-played series in the nation with multiple dates. Elsewhere, Kentucky will host Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M while road trips include Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri to go with Oklahoma and Texas.

Times, dates and television information will be announced at a later date.

With the Sooners and Longhorns joining the fold, the SEC has had 43 NCAA Tournament selections over the last six tournaments, and the league has had at least one team advance to the Elite Eight in 10 of the last 14 tournaments. The league’s success has also translated into 60 players being selected in the last six NBA Drafts, leading all conferences in that time span.

Take a look at the full schedule:

Kentucky’s Conference Opponents

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Auburn
• Florida
• LSU
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas A&M
• Vanderbilt
• at Alabama
• at Georgia
• at Ole Miss
• at Mississippi State
• at Missouri
• at Oklahoma
• at Tennessee
• at Texas
• at Vanderbilt

What do we think, Big Blue Nation? Not a bad way to get the Mark Pope era rolling.