The Big 12 announced the conference schedules for the upcoming season, with the Bearcats getting a favorable draw for the teams they play exclusively at home and home-and-away, while also avoiding some tough atmospheres on their road games.
As dates are yet to be announced, we know the Cincinnati Bearcats will be hosting Arizona, Arizona State, UCF, Houston, Kansas, and TCU. In Jerrod Calhoun's first season, it is a huge advantage to be playing schools like Arizona, Kansas, and Houston exclusively at home. The Bearcats did defeat Kansas in Lawrence last season by 20, but it is still nice to stay away from James Naismith Court. Houston, being a big rival along with UCF, having them at home gives a better chance at winning and a better start to the Calhoun era in Cincinnati.
As far as road games are concerned, the Bearcats will be playing Baylor, BYU, Colorado, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and Utah exclusively on the road, with no return games in Cincinnati. Baylor, BYU, and Iowa State will be the toughest among these games. Still, Colorado, Utah, and Oklahoma State are easier Big 12 matchups that are nice to have on the road rather than other tougher opponents.
Cincinnati will play Kansas State, Texas Tech, and West Virginia both at Fifth Third Arena and on the road. Kansas State is likely a weaker opponent in the Big 12 next season with the departure of Jerome Tang, Texas Tech is going to be a tough opponent next season with the return of JT Toppin, and West Virginia being a regional rival and former assistant-coaching stop for Calhoun, could give Cincinnati the edge they haven't had against the Mountaineers under Wes Miller.
The Big 12 regular season is likely to start in late December or early January, while we await Cincinnati to reveal its final non-conference schedule for a difinitive answer.
'26-'27 Men's Basketball Schedule Matrix 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/4nGfnZ76gM
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) June 11, 2026
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