UConn will play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in its history this season. But crucially, none of those contests will fall in the new year.
On Monday, the Huskies released their 2026-27 non-conference slate, featuring 15 games in total — three exhibitions and 12 regular-season matchups — with 10 coming against teams that finished in the top 25 of the final NCAA NET Rankings. Venue designations, tip times and broadcast information will be released later.
UConn officially opens the season at home against Cornell on Nov. 2. The Big Red, who are coming off a 9-18 campaign this past year, are led by Emily Garner, who coached at Division III Trinity College in Hartford from 2016-24.
Other new dates on the calendar include trips to Ohio State (Nov. 12) and Notre Dame (Dec. 9) as well as a home exhibition with Army (Oct. 25).
For the first time in over 30 years, the Huskies will not play a single non-conference game in the new year. Their final such contest lands on Dec. 20 — a showdown with LSU at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. After that, UConn will be stuck in the doldrums of Big East play until the NCAA Tournament begins. The Huskies have won 70 consecutive conference games, with the last 68 all decided by double digits.
UConn will take the court in a public setting for the first time with an open practice on Sept. 20 at Sacred Heart’s Pitt Center. It’ll then play three exhibitions: Oct. 12 vs. Syracuse at Mohegan Sun Arena, then Oct. 19 vs. Texas and Oct. 25 vs. Army at home.
During the regular season, the Huskies will host Cornell (Nov. 2), Iowa (Nov. 8), UNLV (Dec. 2) and Tennessee (Dec. 12) while traveling to Michigan (Nov. 5), Ohio State (Nov. 12), Louisville (Nov. 15) and Notre Dame (Dec. 9). Neutral site showdowns include South Carolina at Mohegan Sun Arena (Nov. 24), Duke at TD Garden (Nov. 28), Maryland at Barclays Center (Dec. 5) and LSU at Bridgestone Arena (Dec. 20).
In total (including exhibitions), 12 teams made the NCAA Tournament, five reached the Elite Eight and two appeared in the Final Four.
