Kansas Jayhawks basketball will continue to play in Champions Classic through 2025
The season-opening Champions Classic has been renewed for three more years through 2025, ESPN Events announced on Tuesday.
The Classic, which is now in its 11th season, will continue in its one-day college men’s basketball doubleheader format with Kansas, Michigan State, Duke and Kentucky as the participating teams.
The event will continue to be played in New York, Indianapolis and other sites. Next year’s Classic is set for Indianapolis. The 2023-25 venues will be announced at a later date.
The Classic will continue to be sponsored by State Farm.
“The State Farm Champions Classic has been a staple of the college basketball landscape for the past decade with four of the sport’s marquee programs annually ushering in the start of the season in primetime on ESPN,” said Clint Overby, vice president, ESPN Events. “We are excited to continue to work with Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State to extend this event for another three years as we build on the outstanding tradition of the Champions Classic.”
KU will meet Michigan State at 6 p.m. Tuesday with Duke and Kentucky to follow about 8:30 p.m. The Jayhawks are 5-5 all-time in the Classic. Michigan State is 4-6, Duke 6-4 and Kentucky 5-5.
Of the Champions Classic, KU coach Bill Self said Sunday: “It’s a great way to tip off the basketball season. All eyes will be on the four teams that are playing there. There are other teams playing across the country, but none of them are going to get the same exposure we’ll get that night, so I think I’m excited for that. You do this for a long time because there’s certain things that kind of get your motor running and your juices flowing. This is a great way to do that, not only with players, but for coaches as well.”
Champions Classic schedules
2022 in Indianapolis
Duke vs. Kansas; Kentucky vs. Michigan State
2023 at TBD
Kansas vs. Kentucky; Michigan State vs. Duke
2024 at TBD
Kansas vs. Michigan State; Kentucky vs. Duke
2025 at TBD
Michigan State vs. Kentucky; Kansas vs. Duke
This story was originally published November 9, 2021 at 10:22 AM with the headline "Kansas Jayhawks basketball will continue to play in Champions Classic through 2025."
