Missouri basketball learns full SEC schedule, with blockbuster opener set for Mizzou Arena

Missouri basketball’s conference campaign starts with the team at the top of the food chain.

Dennis Gates’ Tigers will open their upcoming conference schedule against the reigning national champions, Florida, on Jan. 3 in Columbia. Mizzou announced its full 18-game schedule for the 2025-26 season in a news release Wednesday.

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Missouri will play each SEC team at least once between Jan. 3 and March 7. The Tigers will take on Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma, both at home and on the road.

In addition to Florida in the opening game of the conference slate, Missouri also will host Auburn (Jan. 13/14), Georgia (Jan. 20/21), Oklahoma (Jan. 24), Mississippi State (Jan. 31), Texas (Feb. 14), Vanderbilt (Feb. 17/18), Tennessee (Feb. 24) and, in the regular-season finale, Arkansas (March 7).

Mizzou will travel to face Kentucky (Jan. 6/7), Ole Miss (Jan. 10), LSU (Jan. 17), Alabama (Jan. 27/28), South Carolina (Feb. 7), Texas A&M (Feb. 10/11), Arkansas (Feb. 21), Mississippi State (Feb. 28), and Oklahoma (March 3/4).

Tipoff times and TV designations will be announced at a later date.

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Gates is about to begin his fourth season as the head coach at MU. He has taken the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament twice since arriving in Columbia. The Tigers’ most recent trip to the Big Dance ended with a first-round loss to Drake.

Missouri has already announced its full nonconference slate, which begins on the road with a game against Howard on Nov. 3 in Washington, D.C.

Before the regular season begins, MU will face Kansas State in an open-to-the-public exhibition matchup, which has been tabbed for a 9 p.m. timeslot on Oct. 24.

More: Missouri basketball will play preseason exhibition against former Big 12 rival

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Full Missouri basketball 2025-26 schedule

• Howard: Nov. 3 in Washington, D.C.

• SEMO: Nov. 7 at Mizzou Arena

• VMI: Nov. 9 at Mizzou Arena

• Minnesota: Nov. 12 at Mizzou Arena

• Prairie View A&M: Nov. 17 at Mizzou Arena

• South Dakota: Nov. 20 at Mizzou Arena

• South Carolina State: Nov. 25 at Mizzou Arena

• Cleveland State: Nov. 28 at Mizzou Arena

• Notre Dame (ACC/SEC Challenge): Dec. 2 in South Bend, Indiana

• Kansas: Dec. 7 in Kansas City

• Alabama State: Dec. 11 at Mizzou Arena

• Bethune-Cookman: Dec. 14 at Mizzou Arena

• Illinois: Dec. 22 in St. Louis

• Florida: Jan. 3 at Mizzou Arena

• Kentucky: Jan. 7/8 in Lexington, Kentucky

• Ole Miss: Jan. 10 in Oxford, Mississippi

• Auburn: Jan. 13/14 at Mizzou Arena

• LSU: Jan. 17 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Georgia: Jan. 20/21 at Mizzou Arena

• Oklahoma: Jan. 24 at Mizzou Arena

• Alabama: Jan. 27/28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

• Mississippi State: Jan. 31 at Mizzou Arena

• South Carolina: Feb. 7 in Columbia, South Carolina

• Texas A&M: Feb. 10/11 in College Station, Texas

• Texas: Feb. 14 at Mizzou Arena

• Vanderbilt: Feb. 17/18 at Mizzou Arena

• Arkansas: Feb. 21 in Fayetteville, Arkansas

• Tennessee: Feb. 24 at Mizzou Arena

• Mississippi State: Feb. 28 in Starkville, Mississippi

• Oklahoma: March 3/4 in Norman, Oklahoma

• Arkansas: March 7 at Mizzou Arena

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri basketball learns full SEC schedule. Here’s who Tigers play