When Do College Basketball Schedules Come Out?

By Sarah Miller · June 15, 2041

College basketball schedules typically begin releasing in late summer, with most Division I teams publishing their full schedules between August and September each year. The NCAA tournament bracket is announced in March during Selection Sunday.

When Are College Basketball Schedules Announced?

The release of college basketball schedules follows a predictable annual timeline, especially for NCAA Division I programs. Fans, analysts, and bettors rely on this information to plan viewing calendars and assess team strength early in the season.

Key Release Windows by Conference

Power Five Conferences (ACC, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, Pac-12): Full schedules usually drop in mid-August.
Mid-Major Conferences: Most publish between late August and early September.
Non-Conference Games: Often announced earlier, sometimes as early as June or July.
Conference Play Start Dates: Typically begin in early December, with scheduling released alongside non-conference matchups.

Factors That Influence Schedule Release Timing

Several behind-the-scenes elements affect when schools and conferences finalize and publish their basketball schedules.

Television Broadcast Coordination

Broadcast partners like ESPN, CBS, and FOX play a major role in determining game dates and times. Networks often request flexibility to assign optimal time slots later, which can delay full schedule publication until broadcast agreements are settled.

Multi-Team Events (MTEs)

Many teams participate in early-season tournaments such as the Maui Invitational or Battle 4 Atlantis. These events require coordination among multiple schools and organizers, pushing some schedule details into September.

Institutional Approval Processes

Each university’s athletic department must align the basketball schedule with venue availability, academic calendars, and travel logistics before public release.

Conference	Average Schedule Release Date	First Game Date (2024–25 Season)	Tournament Start (2025)
Big Ten	August 14, 2024	November 4, 2024	March 11, 2025
SEC	August 21, 2024	November 5, 2024	March 12, 2025
ACC	August 16, 2024	November 6, 2024	March 11, 2025
Big 12	August 19, 2024	November 5, 2024	March 11, 2025
Pac-12	August 22, 2024	November 7, 2024	March 12, 2025

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows that Power Five conferences consistently release schedules in mid-to-late August, allowing fans nearly three months to preview the season. The first games typically start in early November, marking the beginning of the regular season. Conference tournaments are uniformly scheduled for March, setting the stage for March Madness selection.

How to Stay Updated on Schedule Releases

Fans can use several reliable methods to track when their favorite team's schedule drops.

Follow official team Twitter/X accounts and athletic department handles.
Subscribe to conference newsletters (e.g., Big Ten Mailbag).
Bookmark official athletics websites (e.g., gousc.com for USC).
Use ESPN’s Team Calendar tool to auto-sync upcoming games.
Check NCAA’s official men’s basketball news page weekly starting July.

Frequently Asked Questions About College Basketball Schedules

When do NCAA basketball schedules come out for the 2025 season?

Most NCAA Division I men’s basketball schedules for the 2025 season were released between August 14 and August 22, 2024. Non-conference matchups were often announced earlier through July, while full conference slates became available in mid-August.

Do all colleges release their basketball schedules at the same time?

No, release dates vary by conference and institution. Power Five schools tend to publish earlier (mid-August), while smaller conferences may release schedules into early September due to fewer resources and slower coordination.

Where can I find my college team’s basketball schedule?

You can find official schedules on your school’s athletics website (e.g., flsports.utexas.edu), ESPN’s team page, or the conference’s official site. Many teams also post PDF versions of the full season calendar.

Why are some game times not set when the schedule is first released?

Game times are often determined later by television networks. Broadcasters reserve the right to select marquee matchups for prime-time slots weeks in advance, so tip-off times may remain unassigned for several months after the initial schedule drop.

When does the college basketball season start and end?

The 2024–25 college basketball regular season begins November 4, 2024, with early tournaments like the Armed Forces Classic. Conference play starts in December, followed by conference tournaments in March 2025. The NCAA Tournament begins March 18, 2025, culminating in the National Championship on April 7, 2025.