Look, being a Kentucky fan used to be simple. You turned on the local channel or scrolled to ESPN, and there were the Cats. But things have changed. If you’ve spent the last twenty minutes frantically scrolling through your guide trying to find out if the game is on SEC Network or if you need some "plus" app you’ve never heard of, you aren’t alone.
The Kentucky basketball tv schedule for the 2025-26 season is a bit of a maze. With Mark Pope taking the reins and the SEC expanding its reach, the broadcast rights are spread across more platforms than ever. You’ve got traditional heavyweights like CBS and ESPN, but then you’ve got the digital-only hurdles that catch people off guard every Tuesday night.
The SEC Gauntlet: Where to Watch the Big Ones
Most people assume every game is on "the tube." Not quite. While the schedule is packed with marquee matchups, the channel depends entirely on who the opponent is and where the game falls in the week.
If it's a Saturday afternoon, you’re usually looking at ESPN or ABC. For instance, the showdown against Tennessee on January 17 is a high-noon tip on ESPN. But if you’re looking for the rematch at home on February 7, that’s an 8:30 PM prime-time slot on the same network.
The midweek games are where it gets tricky. On Wednesday, January 21, the Cats take on Texas at 7:00 PM, but you’ll need the SEC Network for that one. It's the same story for the South Carolina game on February 24. Honestly, if you don't have a login for the ESPN app, you're going to miss about a third of the season.
The Streaming Struggle is Real
Let’s talk about SEC Network+. It is not a TV channel. I’ll say it again: you won't find it by clicking "channel up" on your remote. It’s a digital stream. This is where those early-season "buy-game" matchups often live, and it’s where fans get the most frustrated.
To get these games, you basically have to authenticate your TV provider—whether that’s Spectrum, DirecTV, or YouTube TV—through the ESPN app. If you have Hulu + Live TV, you're usually in the clear because it bundles ESPN+ anyway. For everyone else, it’s a dance of logging in and hoping the Wi-Fi doesn't drop during a crucial three-pointer.
Breaking Down the Remaining 2026 Schedule
You’ve got a lot of basketball left, and some of these times are still "to be determined" based on how the standings look. Here is the breakdown of what we know for the home stretch:
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January 24 vs. Ole Miss: This is a 12:00 PM tip-off. It's slated for ESPN or ESPN2. They usually decide the specific channel about a week out based on the rankings.
January 27 at Vanderbilt: A late one. 9:00 PM on ESPN. Expect a long night if you’re watching from the Eastern time zone.
January 31 at Arkansas: This is the big one. Mark Pope vs. John Calipari in Fayetteville. It’s a 6:30 PM start on ESPN. This will likely be the most-watched game of the regular season, so expect the broadcast to be everywhere.
February 4 vs. Oklahoma: The Sooners come to Rupp for a 9:00 PM game on ESPN2.
February 14 at Florida: Valentine’s Day hoops. 3:00 PM on ABC. This is one of the rare times the Cats move over to broadcast television, making it easy for anyone with an antenna to pick up.
February 17 vs. Georgia: Another 9:00 PM night. The network is still floating between ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU.
March 7 vs. Florida: The regular-season finale. 4:00 PM. It’ll be on ESPN or ESPN2.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Schedule
There's a common misconception that if you have the SEC Network on your cable package, you automatically get everything. That's not how the "Alternate" channels work. Sometimes, if two games overlap—like a gymnastics meet running long—the basketball game moves to the SEC Network Alternate channel.
You need to know where that is in your specific guide before tip-off. For DirecTV users, it’s usually 611-1. For Dish, it’s often 404-something. If you wait until the game starts to find it, you’ll miss the first ten points.
Also, keep an eye on the Champions Classic and other neutral-site events. Those are almost exclusively ESPN properties. The Gonzaga game back in December and the Michigan State game are perfect examples. These aren't SEC-controlled, so the "SEC Network" rule doesn't apply there.
How to Actually Watch Without Cable
If you’ve cut the cord, your options are better than they were a few years ago, but they aren't cheaper.
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- YouTube TV: Gets you almost everything except the pure SECN+ exclusives (unless you use the ESPN app login).
- Fubo: Great for sports, but they sometimes lack the Turner-owned channels (TBS/TNT) which matter more for the NCAA Tournament than the regular season.
- Hulu + Live TV: Probably the "easiest" for a Kentucky fan because of the ESPN+ integration.
- Sling TV: You need the "Orange" package plus the "Sports Extra" add-on to get the SEC Network. It’s the cheapest route, but the interface is kinda clunky.
The reality of the Kentucky basketball tv schedule in 2026 is that it’s a multi-platform commitment. You can't just rely on one source anymore.
Getting Ready for the Postseason
Once we hit the SEC Tournament in March, everything shifts. Those games are primarily on the SEC Network for the early rounds and then move to ESPN for the semifinals and championship.
Then comes the Big Dance. Once the NCAA Tournament starts, the SEC and ESPN contracts take a backseat. You’ll need to find your way back to CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. It’s a wild transition that happens every year, yet somehow catches everyone off guard when they can't find the opening-round game on their usual sports channel.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
To ensure you don't miss a single Mark Pope era moment, do these three things right now:
- Download the ESPN App: Don't wait for a Tuesday night at 6:55 PM. Download it, sign in with your TV provider, and make sure the "SEC Network+" streams actually load.
- Sync the Calendar: Go to the official UK Athletics site and use the "Add to Calendar" feature. It automatically updates tip-off times and TV channels as they are finalized.
- Check your "Alternate" Channel: Find the SEC Network Alternate channel on your guide today. Write the number down. Put it on a Post-it note on the fridge. You’ll thank yourself when a 2-hour blowout in the game before yours forces a channel switch.
The schedule is built for national exposure, which is great for recruiting, but it's a bit of a headache for the casual viewer at home. Stay ahead of the network shifts, and you'll spend more time cheering and less time troubleshooting your remote.