Five aspects to pay attention to on the first night of college basketball

November 3, 2025

College Basketball Season Kicks Off Tonight

A wonderful five-month adventure is set to begin again on Monday night. Although the first game of the season may not be the flashiest match-up, it still promises some exciting moments.

Here are five points to consider as we dive into the opening day of the men’s college basketball season.

Fans won’t have to wait long for the first big game of the 2025-26 season.

The defending champion Florida Gators will face No. 13 Arizona in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. ET, airing on TNT and TruTV. This matchup repeats from last year, and Florida is looking to assert themselves right off the bat, boasting one of the strongest frontcourts in the game. But, the spotlight will be on the new backcourt featuring transfers Boogie Frand from Arkansas and Xavien Lee from Princeton.

While Arizona has talent, the team is also notably inexperienced. Senior point guard Jayden Bradley can be a challenging opponent for Florida’s backcourt. He’ll be joined by promising freshmen Core Peat and Brayden Burries, who is a top-15 recruit for the 2025 class. If Peat and Burries can handle the pressure, Arizona might just spoil the reigning champions’ opening night.

I mean, it’s just the first game, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be worth staying up late for.

The most awaited season for BYU basketball kicks off with a game against Villanova at around 9:30 PM ET, also on TNT and TruTV.

The Cougars welcome back leading scorer Richie Sanders, who averaged 16.9 points last season. They’ve also added freshman All-American point guard Robert Wright III, and they signed AJ Divanza, a preseason first-team AP All-American and the top NBA draft pick. Kevin Young’s team will be making regular TV appearances this season, starting with this opening night.

Villanova is facing some tough challenges as the Kevin Willard era begins, coming off three tough years under Kyle Neptune. Freshman point guard Akaden Lewis brings considerable talent and a flair for risk-taking, which should make for an entertaining match.

Let’s grab coffee at 7 PM. It’ll be worth it.

3. 17 Other Ranked Teams in Action

Opening night often brings surprises, like unexpected upsets or close calls for teams ranked in the preseason top 25. So, what makes this year’s opening night any different?

Here are some other top 25 games happening on Monday night:

No. 2 Houston vs. Lehigh, 8 p.m. | CBSSN
No. 4 UConn vs. New Haven, 7 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 5 St. John’s vs. Quinnipiac, 6:30 p.m. | FS1
No. 7 Michigan vs. Oakland, 8:30 p.m. | FS1
No. 11 Louisville vs. South Carolina State, 9 p.m. | ACC Network
No. 12 UCLA vs. Eastern Washington, 10:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
No. 14 Arkansas vs. Southern, 7 p.m. | SEC Network
No. 15 Alabama vs. North Dakota, 8 p.m. | SECN+
No. 16 Iowa State vs. FDU, 8 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 17 Illinois vs. Jackson State, 8:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
No. 18 Tennessee vs. Mercer, 7 p.m. | SECN+
No. 19 Kansas vs. Green Bay, 8 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 20 Auburn vs. Bethune-Cookman, 8 p.m. | SECN+
No. 21 Gonzaga vs. Texas Southern, 9 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 22 Michigan State vs. Colgate, 7 p.m. | Big Ten+
No. 24 Wisconsin vs. Campbell, 8 p.m. | Big Ten+
No. 25 North Carolina vs. Central Arkansas, 7 p.m. | ACC Network

The expectation is that these ranked teams will secure victories by at least 21.5 points, but surprises are definitely on the horizon early in this season.

4. Boston College vs. FAU Should Be Fun Too

KenPom’s “Thrill Factor” ranks the Boston College versus Florida Atlantic game as the third most anticipated (after the earlier matchups mentioned), scheduled for 7 p.m. in Boca Raton on ESPNU.

With head coach Earl Grant under pressure, a road win against a well-respected opponent could help ease some worries. A victory would also mean a strong start to the non-conference season for a team that’s been projected to finish last in the ACC.

Donald Hand Jr.’s surprising decision to return to Chestnut Hill gives the Eagles hope for this season. When he’s on his game, he’s truly a joy to watch.

5. Stage of the 1968 Opening Marathon

It might not compare to the old 24-hour tip-off marathons, but it’s certainly close enough.

A field of 68 has organized an all-day marathon of games on our YouTube channel. Some matchups look promising: Bradley vs. St. Bonaventure, Omaha vs. Murray State, Drake vs. Northern Arizona, and South Dakota State vs. Merrimack are all noteworthy games that could distract from everyday life.