The upcoming SEC basketball schedule is starting to take form, and for Kentucky fans, two marquee rivalries are already making headlines.
One of the biggest updates: Kentucky and Florida are officially back to playing twice a season. This news will thrill fans who remember last year’s 106-100 overtime battle in Gainesville — a game packed with drama and intensity that left both fanbases craving more. SEC official Garth Glassman admitted last season that the league had “missed the mark” by not scheduling a home-and-home series and promised to reconsider. Now, that promise has been fulfilled.
The Wildcats and Gators will resume their traditional home-and-home rivalry, restoring a matchup that has delivered no shortage of unforgettable moments over the years.
However, another rivalry will remain a one-game affair this season.
John Calipari and Arkansas will only face Kentucky once, with the matchup set to take place in Fayetteville. Last season, Calipari made an emotional return to Rupp Arena and led the Razorbacks to a statement win — a moment Big Blue Nation hasn’t forgotten. This year, Mark Pope and his retooled Wildcats will look to return the favor in enemy territory at Bud Walton Arena.
The decision to keep this to a single meeting has sparked debate. With the SEC’s updated scheduling model in effect, fans are split: Should these high-stakes rivalries be guaranteed twice a season, or does a once-a-year showdown add more anticipation and meaning?
Either way, there’s no denying the intrigue these games bring. From the rekindled heat between Kentucky and Florida to the Calipari storyline in Fayetteville, the SEC season is already generating buzz — and tipoff is still months away.
So what do you think, Big Blue Nation? Should both rivalries be home-and-home every year, or do the limited matchups make them even more special?
