FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas Razorbacks’ men’s basketball team, ranked #12/13, will host #15/12 Gonzaga for an exhibition game at Bud Walton Arena on Saturday, October 24, at 3 p.m. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+ and broadcast by the Learfield Razorback Sports Network.
This exhibition marks the first of two home games Arkansas will play ahead of the 2026-27 regular season. Tickets are not included in the season ticket package but are available for purchase. Parking will be free and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with select lots remaining restricted. Lots will open two hours before tip-off, and doors to Bud Walton Arena will open 90 minutes prior to the game.
The Razorbacks have a strong history in exhibition matchups, boasting a 76-11 all-time record, including 67-9 at home. The team has won 40 consecutive exhibition games at Bud Walton Arena. Facing elite opposition in exhibitions has become a hallmark of Arkansas basketball, with recent successes including wins over preseason #1 Kansas in 2024-25 and preseason #1 Purdue in 2023-24. However, the Razorbacks fell to Texas in an exhibition held at the Longhorns’ Moody Center in 2022-23.
Saturday’s game will be the first exhibition this year for both teams. Exhibition results do not count toward season records or official series standings. Historically, Arkansas and Gonzaga have met twice in official play, splitting the series with one win each. Gonzaga claimed victory in the 2013 Maui Invitational, led by Kevin Pangos’ 34-point performance. Arkansas evened the rivalry in 2022, defeating the top-seeded Bulldogs in the NCAA Sweet 16, with standout contributions from JD Notae, Jaylin Williams, and Trey Wade.
Both teams feature Hall of Fame coaches in a rare matchup. Razorbacks head coach John Calipari, inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2015, will face Gonzaga’s Mark Few, who was enshrined in 2026. Calipari presented Few for his induction alongside NBA legends John Stockton and Grant Hill.
In their respective Hall of Fame careers, Few and Calipari rank first and second among active NCAA Division I coaches in winning percentage. Few has amassed a remarkable .832 win percentage over 27 seasons, while Calipari has a .759 mark across 34 years. The two also lead active coaches in total conference championships, with Few capturing 43 and Calipari earning 32.
The Razorbacks will complete their exhibition schedule with a game against Memphis on Wednesday, October 28, also at Bud Walton Arena.