Two of college basketball's most tradition-rich programs are set to reignite a long-dormant rivalry, as the University of Louisville and the University of Memphis announced a six-year scheduling agreement to renew annual meetings on the hardwood, beginning with a matchup at Louisville's KFC Yum! Center on December 13, 2025.
The series will shift to Memphis and FedExForum in 2026-27 when the Cardinals make the return trip. While specific dates and venues are still being finalized for the remaining four seasons, both institutions are committed to sustaining one of the sport's most heated and historic rivalries through the 2030-31 season.
"Renewing this rivalry with Louisville means everything - not just for Memphis, but for college basketball as a whole," Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway said. "These are the kinds of games that bring out the best in both programs, energize fan bases and are the reason players want to come to Memphis.
"There's real history and passion between us and we are thrilled to help bring it back and give our fans - and the sport - something special to look forward to the next six years."
The upcoming meeting marks the first time the two teams will square off since December 16, 2017, when they met in the Houzz Gotham Classic at Madison Square Garden. It also rekindles a fierce competitive history that spans 90 meetings across four different conferences - the Missouri Valley Conference, Metro Conference, Conference USA, and the American Athletic Conference, where the two programs last shared league affiliation during the 2013-14 season. Memphis swept both meetings that season against a Cardinal team that finished the year 31-6 overall and No. 5 in the final AP ranking.
Though conference realignment has separated them for over a decade - with Louisville joining the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 2014 - the passion surrounding this rivalry has endured. The matchups have often featured NCAA Tournament implications, emotional stakes, and some of the most intense atmospheres in college basketball. From last-second buzzer beaters to physical, high-intensity showdowns, the Cardinals-Tigers series has earned its place as one of college basketball's most electric annual fixtures.
"We understand the importance of scheduling dynamic matchups for our men's basketball program so rekindling the rivalry with Louisville makes perfect sense," Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed Scott, Ph.D. said. "We would like to thank Louisville's administration for working with us to re-establish the relationship and look forward to competing against our neighbors over the next six years. Given my history with Louisville it is exciting to be able to finalize the series for our department and Tiger Nation."
A New Chapter with Familiar Fire
The 2025-26 showdown comes as both programs are entering significant new chapters, carrying momentum from highly successful 2024-25 campaigns.
At Louisville, head coach Pat Kelsey enters his second season at the helm after a historic debut year. The Cardinals finished 27-8 overall, securing second place in the ACC, and made their first-ever appearance in the ACC Championship Game. Under Kelsey's energetic leadership, Louisville reestablished itself as a national force, making a return to March Madness and revitalizing the fan base.
On the other side of the hardwood, Penny Hardaway's Memphis Tigers are coming off a banner season of their own, where they finished 29-6 overall. Memphis swept both The American regular season and tournament championships, earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and finished No. 25 in the final AP Poll.
Now entering his eighth season, Hardaway is reloading quickly after losing 13 players from last year's squad - adding 10 newcomers in just the last two weeks as part of a swift rebuild to stay among the elite.
