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Kentucky and West Virginia in talks for Black Friday matchup in Nashville
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Jul 7, 5:50 PM EDT

Kentucky and West Virginia in talks for Black Friday matchup in Nashville

A potential 2026-27 neutral-site showdown between the Kentucky Wildcats and the West Virginia Mountaineers would arrive the day after Thanksgiving, though negotiations are not finalized.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Kentucky’s non-conference slate for 2026-27 could soon include a marquee neutral-site game on Black Friday, with West Virginia emerging as a key target for a matchup in Nashville, according to multiple reports citing Kentucky beat coverage. The concept would put the Wildcats against the defending College Basketball Crown champions in a setting that has historically mattered for major early-season contests.

The reported plan is not fully locked in yet. Writers covering the situation said Kentucky is in talks, with a deal still under negotiation and not considered final. Earlier in the process, the Wildcats were reportedly exploring an alternative opponent for the holiday window, but that plan fell through, leaving West Virginia as the leading possibility.

West Virginia enters the discussion with momentum after winning the College Basketball Crown tournament, a postseason event that crowned the Mountaineers by beating Oklahoma 89-82 in overtime in the championship game. It is a recent reminder of how quickly the Mountaineers have tried to build a competitive non-conference identity around their new coaching staff and roster direction.

On the sideline, West Virginia is led by Ross Hodge, who took over after Darian DeVries’ one-year stint at Morgantown before DeVries moved on to Indiana. The reports also describe West Virginia as having missed the NCAA Tournament, then closed the season strong through the College Basketball Crown run. That context helps explain why Kentucky’s potential opponents would carry extra weight, even if the matchup arrives before conference play begins in full.

Roster construction is another reason this rumored matchup has roster-crossing intrigue. West Virginia has added transfers that include former-portal target Finley Bizjack, and the Mountaineers also have a highly regarded incoming point guard in Miles Sadler, who is referenced in the coverage as a top-20 prospect in recruiting industry rankings. Those additions matter for Kentucky because early season non-conference games often function as the first real diagnostic of how a team’s new pieces connect under pressure.

For Kentucky, the appeal of the matchup is straightforward: Black Friday is a high-visibility date, Nashville is a familiar neutral-site stage for prominent programs, and West Virginia’s recent tournament success gives the contest a built-in narrative. Still, until an official schedule release confirms the opponent, date, and venue details, the matchup should be treated as an open negotiation rather than a settled fixture. The next step to watch will be any formal announcement once Kentucky’s full 2026-27 schedule is made public.

Why It Matters

  • A Black Friday neutral-site game would significantly shape Kentucky’s early-season evaluation of its lineup and style before SEC play begins.
  • West Virginia’s recent championship run suggests this would be more than a ceremonial non-conference test, especially if the Mountaineers’ roster is still gelling from last year’s postseason momentum.
  • Neutral-site high-profile games can affect program-wide recruiting and recruiting reputation, because they showcase team-building against national-caliber opponents early.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Kentucky is reportedly in talks to play West Virginia on Black Friday in Nashville for the 2026-27 season.
  • Multiple reports indicate negotiations are ongoing and a finalized agreement has not been announced.
  • Earlier discussions reportedly targeted Illinois for the Black Friday game, but that plan fell through.
  • West Virginia is described as the defending College Basketball Crown champion after winning the title by defeating Oklahoma 89-82 in overtime.
  • West Virginia is coached by Ross Hodge and has been rebuilding the roster through additions in the transfer portal and recruiting class.