Fans won't have to wait long for John Calipari's return to Lexington, as Arkansas' road game at Kentucky highlights the 2024-25 SEC schedule announced Monday.
The two teams will meet only once next season. It will be Calipari's first trip back to Rupp Arena since he left last month to take over at conference rival Arkansas after 15 seasons at Kentucky.
Since getting the job, Calipari has signed three members of what was the Wildcats' No. 2 recruiting class, while also landing two transfers from Kentucky.
Both Calipari and Kentucky's Mark Pope took over empty rosters. Kentucky will not return any players from last season, keeping only one recruit who committed to the Wildcats under Calipari. Arkansas does not return players from the Eric Musselman era, and both high school senior recruits followed Musselman to USC.
Alabama, which reached the Final Four last season, will likely enter 2024-45 as a favorite in the SEC. The Crimson Tide has had success in the transfer portal and regained the services of starting forward Grant Nelson. Nate Oats' program faces Auburn, Kentucky and Mississippi State twice next season.
Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida, Arkansas and Tennessee are also ranked in ESPN's Too Early Top 25.
The SEC expands to 16 teams, with Oklahoma and Texas joining this summer. Each team will face the other 15 at least once next season. The remaining three conference games will include two permanent home opponents and one opponent that changes each year.
Dates and times will be announced later. Conference play begins January 4, 2025.
