Tar Heels Face Top-25 Test Against Kansas in Historic Matchup
The North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball team continues its 2025-26 season with a highly anticipated top-25 matchup against the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. ET, televised nationally on ESPN. The game,set to be played at the Smith Center in chapel Hill,marks the first-ever meeting between the two basketball blue-blood programs on Roy Williams Court.
The 25th-ranked Tar heels (1-0) and 19th-ranked Jayhawks (1-0) enter the contest seeking to build on successful season openers. However, history favors Kansas, having won five consecutive games against UNC, including a painful defeat in the 2022 national championship game. North Carolina is persistent to break this losing streak and secure their first victory against the Jayhawks since 2002.
UNC began their regular season with a decisive win against Central Arkansas, following a mixed preseason schedule that saw a loss to no. 8 BYU in Utah and a dominant victory over Division II opponent winston-Salem State in Chapel Hill. Fifth-year coach Hubert Davis has revamped his roster, integrating 11 new players around the leadership of senior guard seth Trimble.
The Tar Heels’ influx of talent includes transfers Henri Veesaar (Arizona), Jarin Stevenson (Alabama), kyan evans (Colorado State), jonathan Powell (West Virginia), and Jaydon Young (Virginia Tech). adding to the excitement, projected top-10 NBA Draft pick Caleb Wilson, along with promising freshmen guards Derek Dixon and Isaiah Denis, have joined the team. Preseason polls predict UNC will finish third in the ACC, trailing Louisville and reigning conference champion Duke.
International prospect Luka Bogavac received clearance prior to UNC’s season opener, adding further depth to the squad.
Kansas, coming off a 21-13 season, also boasts a significantly altered roster under the guidance of coach Bill Self in his 23rd season. Eight newcomers, including projected top-three 2026 NBA Draft pick Darryn Peterson, are expected to make an immediate impact.Illinois transfer Tre White, freshman Kohl rosario, St.
- Nov. 7 vs. Kansas
- Nov. 10 vs. Central Arkansas
- Nov. 12 vs. Winston-Salem State
- Nov. 15 at Northern Iowa
- Nov. 18 vs. Radford
- Nov.22 vs. Monmouth
- Nov. 24 vs. VCU
- Nov.26 vs.Purdue, Fort Myers, Fla. (Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off)
- Nov.28 vs. Butler, Fort Myers, Fla. (Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off)
- Dec. 2 at Kentucky (ACC-SEC Challenge)
- Dec. 7 vs. Georgetown
- Dec. 13 vs. USC Upstate
- Dec. 16 vs.ETSU
- Dec. 20 vs. Ohio State, atlanta, Ga. (CBS Sports Classic)
- Dec. 22 vs. ECU
- Dec. 30 vs. Florida State
- Jan. 3 at SMU
- Jan. 10 vs. Wake Forest
- Jan. 14 at Stanford
- Jan. 17 at Cal
- Jan. 21 vs. Our Lady
- Jan. 24 at Virginia
- Jan. 31 at Georgia Tech
- Feb. 2 vs.Syracuse, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
- Feb. 7 vs. Duke
- Feb. 10 at Miami
- feb. 14 vs. Pitt
- Feb. 17 at NC State
- Feb. 21 at Syracuse
- Feb. 23 vs. Louisville, 7 p.m., (ESPN)
- Feb. 28 vs. Virginia Tech
- March 3 vs. Clemson
- March 7 at Duke
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley.
