Memphis basketball unveiled its full nonconference schedule Aug. 10, which includes as many as seven games against power conference teams and at least six games against programs that are coming off March Madness appearances.
The Tigers' home schedule also features a previously unannounced game against Jackson State (Dec. 2), a recently reported contest against Little Rock (Dec. 22), as well as a marquee matchup with Louisville (Nov. 15) — the first visit the Cardinals have made to FedExForum since March 1, 2014.
Penny Hardaway's team is expected to schedule a third exhibition game (at FedExForum) to a preseason schedule that already includes road dates with Mississippi State (Oct. 23) and Arkansas (Oct. 29).
Complete tip-off times and television
broadcast details will be announced at a later date.
The regular season begins with Iowa State (Nov. 2) at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Cyclones have won 25 or more games each of the past three seasons under coach T.J. Otzelberger.
The Tigers are scheduled to open the Battle 4 Atlantis against Wake Forest on Nov. 25.
Including Iowa State, Memphis has scheduled four games against teams currently ranked in the top 25 of Bart Torvik's preseason projections: No. 8 Louisville, No. 13 Texas (Dec. 16), No. 19 Iowa State and No. 25 Vanderbilt (Nov. 10).
"I love my schedule, because in the (nonconference), we play a really good schedule," Hardaway said in July. "We don't lose sight of conference (play), because conference is still tough enough, because you're always everybody's best game. But I'm really proud of the schedule. Every year, we try do the best that we can and try to play the P4's, and try to put ourselves in position."
Memphis will welcome VCU for its home opener on Nov. 7. The Tigers won the last meeting with the Commodores at FedExForum, 62-47, on Nov. 20, 2022.
Memphis Tigers basketball schedule 2026-27
- Oct. 23: at Mississippi State (exhibition)
- Oct. 29: at Arkansas (exhibition)
- Nov. 2: vs. Iowa State (Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
- Nov. 7: host VCU
- Nov. 10: at Vanderbilt
- Nov. 15: host Louisville
- Nov. 22: host Evansville
- Nov. 25: vs. Wake Forest at Battle 4 Atlantis (Bahamas)
- Nov. 27: vs. Mississippi State/Penn State at Battle 4 Atlantis (Bahamas)
- Nov. 29: vs. Dayton (Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio — part of the Atlantic 10-American Conference Showcase)
- Dec. 2: host Jackson State
- Dec. 5: at Baylor
- Dec. 11: host Grand Canyon
- Dec. 16: at Texas
- Dec. 22: host Little Rock
- Feb. 20, 2027: host Utah State
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball unveils complete 26-27 nonconference schedule
