The CBS Sports Classic has added Kansas to its annual college basketball showcase featuring four of the nation's top programs. The Jayhawks join Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio State as participants in the event.
The signature doubleheader began in 2014 and is broadcast each year on the CBS Television Network and streamed live on Paramount+. The event has been extended through 2029 with all four schools.
The 2026 CBS Sports Classic will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19, and will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The doubleheader matchups for the 2026 event will include Kansas facing Ohio State and North Carolina taking on Kentucky.
The matchups and dates for the CBS Sports Classic in 2027, 2028 and 2029 have also been set and are as follows:
- Dec. 18, 2027, Kansas vs. North Carolina and Kentucky vs. Ohio State
- Dec. 16, 2028, Kansas vs. Kentucky and North Carolina vs. Ohio State
- Dec. 15, 2029, Kansas vs. Ohio State and Kentucky vs. North Carolina
In addition to the CBS Sports Classic, Kansas will continue to participate in the State Farm Champions Classic which has been extended through November 2028. The 2026 event will feature Kansas vs. Kentucky on Nov. 10, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago. KU will play Michigan State on Nov. 9, 2027, and Duke on Nov. 7, 2028.
KU will also continue to play in the Players Era Men's Championship in Las Vegas in November 2026, during Thanksgiving week. The 2026 field has expanded to include eight Big 12 teams.