When Does College Basketball Start in 2025?

By Sarah Miller · October 2, 2038

College basketball for the 2025-2026 season officially starts in early November 2025, with most NCAA Division I teams beginning their regular-season games around November 4–7, 2025. The season typically opens with high-profile matchups and multi-team events (MTEs), setting the stage for conference play starting in December.

When Does College Basketball Start? Key Dates Explained

The college basketball calendar follows a predictable annual rhythm, but exact start dates vary slightly each year based on scheduling, holidays, and NCAA announcements. For the 2025-2026 season, fans can expect tip-off to begin in early November 2025.

Regular Season Kickoff

The NCAA allows Division I men's basketball teams to begin their regular season on the first Friday of November. In 2025, that date falls on November 7. However, many programs participate in exempt tournaments or early-season invitationals that may start one or two days earlier under special NCAA allowances.

NCAA official start date: Friday, November 7, 2025
Early-season tournaments: As early as Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Conference play begins: Early to mid-December 2025
NCAA Tournament: March 18 – April 7, 2026

Preseason and Exhibition Games Schedule

Before the official season begins, teams play exhibition games to prepare. These non-counting contests usually occur in late October.

Exhibition Game Rules

Each team is allowed up to two exhibition games against other collegiate programs or non-collegiate opponents. These games do not count toward season records and are used for player evaluation and strategy testing.

Typical exhibition window: October 20 – November 3, 2025
Limits: Maximum of two exhibitions per team
No live stats or media broadcasts required

Multi-Team Events and Early Season Tournaments

Multi-Team Events (MTEs) are critical early-season competitions that allow teams to earn extra games (up to four per event over multiple seasons) approved by the NCAA. These tournaments provide ranking opportunities and help build NCAA Tournament resumes.

Popular Early-Season College Basketball Tournaments

Empire Classic: Held at Madison Square Garden, features top-ranked programs
Phil Knight Invitational: Rotating location, elite competition
Maui Jim Maui Invitational: Thanksgiving week event in Hawaii
Battle 4 Atlantis: Bahamas-based tournament with strong fields
Charleston Classic: Competitive field in South Carolina

Tournament	Dates (Projected 2025)	Location	Participating Teams (Examples)	Games Counted?
Empire Classic	Nov 21–22, 2025	New York, NY	Kentucky, Duke, UConn	Yes (2 games)
Maui Invitational	Nov 24–26, 2025	Lahaina, HI	Tennessee, Creighton, Butler	Yes (3 games)
Battle 4 Atlantis	Nov 26–28, 2025	Paradise Island, Bahamas	Michigan State, Gonzaga, Texas	Yes (3 games)
Players Era Festival	Nov 27–Dec 1, 2025	Las Vegas, NV	Arizona, Kansas, Marquette	Yes (3 games)
Charleston Classic	Nov 20–23, 2025	Charleston, SC	Oregon, Oklahoma State, VCU	Yes (3 games)

Table data source:1, 2

The table above outlines key exempt tournaments for the 2025-2026 season. These events allow teams to play additional games beyond the standard 31-game limit, enhancing their strength of schedule and postseason evaluation. Most MTEs take place during Thanksgiving week, providing national exposure and early rankings influence.

Conference Play and Championship Implications

While non-conference games shape early narratives, conference play determines tournament seeding and automatic bids. Most major conferences begin league games in early December.

Start Dates for Major Conferences (Projected 2025)

Big Ten: December 2, 2025
SEC: December 3, 2025
ACC: December 4, 2025
Big 12: December 1, 2025
Pac-12: December 3, 2025 (final season before realignment)

Conference schedules are released in August each year and feature round-robin or hybrid formats. The performance during these games directly impacts NCAA Tournament selection and seeding.

Frequently Asked Questions About College Basketball Start Dates

When does the 2025 college basketball season start?

The 2025-2026 college basketball season begins in early November 2025, with most teams playing their first official game between November 4 and November 7, 2025. Exhibition games may occur as early as October 20.

How many games do college basketball teams play in a season?

NCAA Division I teams can play up to 31 regular-season games. However, teams participating in exempt tournaments like the Maui Invitational can play up to 34 games due to NCAA waivers allowing additional contests.

What is the difference between exhibition and regular-season games?

Exhibition games do not count toward a team's official record and are played in October or early November for practice purposes. Regular-season games begin in November and contribute to standings, rankings, and NCAA Tournament eligibility.

When does March Madness begin in 2026?

March Madness, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 18, 2026, with First Four games in Dayton, Ohio. The main bracket action starts Thursday, March 20, with Selection Sunday occurring on March 16, 2026.

Can college basketball games start before November?

No, official NCAA regular-season games cannot start before the first Friday of November, which is November 7 in 2025. However, teams may play up to two exhibition games starting in late October against other schools or non-collegiate opponents.