FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball team, ranked No. 12/13 in the preseason polls, will take on the No. 15/12 Gonzaga Bulldogs in an exhibition game set for Saturday, October 24, at 3 p.m. inside Bud Walton Arena. The game will be available for viewing on SEC Network+ and broadcast on the Learfield Razorback Sports Network.
This contest, along with a second exhibition versus Memphis on October 28, is not included in Arkansas’ 2026-27 season ticket packages. Tickets for both games remain available for purchase online.
Parking for the event will be free and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of several reserved lots. Parking areas open two hours before tipoff, and doors to Bud Walton Arena will open to attendees 90 minutes prior to game time. Officials encourage fans to review parking availability in advance.
Saturday’s matchup marks the first exhibition game for both Arkansas and Gonzaga in advance of the regular season, and the results will not be counted in the teams’ official records. Historically, Arkansas boasts a strong record in exhibition play, holding a 76-11 overall mark, including a 67-9 record at home. Additionally, the Razorbacks have won 40 consecutive exhibition games played in Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks are no strangers to challenging exhibition opponents. Recent years have featured exhibition wins against preseason No. 1 Kansas in 2024 and preseason No. 1 Purdue in 2023. They also faced No. 12 Texas ahead of the 2022-23 season, though the Longhorns secured victory in that matchup.
The history between Arkansas and Gonzaga includes two official games. The Bulldogs defeated Arkansas 91-81 during the 2013 Maui Invitational, while the Razorbacks claimed revenge in a 2022 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 showdown, defeating top-ranked Gonzaga 74-68. That game featured standout performances, including Arkansas guard JD Notae scoring 21 points and forward Jaylin Williams notching a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Saturday’s game will also spark renewed interest in the coaching battle between two accomplished Naismith Hall of Famers, Arkansas head coach John Calipari and Gonzaga’s Mark Few. Few, inducted into the Hall earlier this year, was presented at the ceremony by Calipari, alongside John Stockton and Grant Hill. Both coaches rank among the all-time leaders in winning percentage and have a combined total of 75 conference championships across their storied careers.