Arizona and South Dakota State have reached an agreement to play Dec. 29 at McKale Center, potentially completing the Wildcats' nonconference schedule once the game is formally contracted.
In all, UA's nonconference schedule will include six games against high-level opponents and seven against mid- or low-major opponents, including two in UA's own "multi-team event" (MTE) over Thanksgiving week: Against Denver and Norfolk State.
Arizona will also play 18 Big 12 games starting no earlier than Jan. 2, though those dates and times have yet to be announced, for a total of 31 regular-season games. In addition, UA is expected to host two exhibition games that can now be against Division I opponents.
While teams are currently limited to 31 regular-season games, or 29 if they don't play in a two- or three-game MTE, the NCAA will allow teams to schedule 32 games without any MTE requirement starting in 2026-27. In an era where schools are now paying players, the change allows them to make more money with an extra game and allows more flexibility for in-season tournaments.
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South Dakota State and Arizona have met only once before, a 71-64 UA win on Nov. 21, 2019, when guard Nico Mannion had 14 points, three rebounds and four assists to lead the Wildcats.
Arizona forward Zeke Nnaji (22) drags down a second half rebound in front of South Dakota State guard Noah Freidel (11) in their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 21, 2019.
South Dakota State is coming off a 20-12 season in which the Jackrabbits finished in third place in the Summit League at 11-5. They finished the season with a NET rating of 130 and a Kenpom rank of 137.
Former Cochise College and Washington State big man Oscar Cluff led the Jackrabbits last season in scoring (17.6) and rebounding (12.3), earning first-team all-Summit League honors, but has transferred to Purdue for the 2025-26 season.
Here's a look at how Arizona's 2025-26 schedule appears as it nears completion:
- Oct. 3 — Red-Blue Showcase
- TBA — Exhibition game
- TBA — Exhibition game
- Nov. 3 — Florida (at Las Vegas)
- Nov. 7 — Utah Tech
- Nov. 11 — NAU
- Nov. 14 — UCLA (at Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome)
- Nov. 19 — at UConn
- Nov. 24 — Denver (Arizona MTE)
- Nov. 29* — Norfolk State (Arizona MTE)
- Dec. 6 — Auburn
- Dec. 13 — Alabama (at Birmingham)
- Dec. 16 — Abilene Christian
- Dec. 20 — San Diego State (at Phoenix)
- Dec. 22 — Bethune-Cookman
- Dec. 29 -- South Dakota State**
* Date tentative.
** Agreed to but not yet under contract.
Arizona's Big 12 schedule
(To begin Jan. 2 or later. Time and dates TBA)
Big 12 home games:
- Cincinnati
- Iowa State
- Kansas State
- Oklahoma State
- Texas Tech
- West Virginia
- BYU
- ASU
- Kansas
Big 12 away games:
- Baylor
- TCU
- UCF
- Houston
- Colorado
- Utah
- BYU
- ASU
- Kansas
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