Lunardi: These 10 games are worth your time this November

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  Joe LunardiOct 13, 2026, 08:30 AM ET

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  • Resident college basketball bracketologist for ESPN
  • Contributor to SportsCenter, ESPN Insider
  • Published first public bracket in 1995

The men's college basketball season no longer starts with a whimper.

Yes, there are too many guarantee games with little doubt about the outcome. And there are definitely too many games involving non-Division I opponents -- although we're all about giving opportunity to the worthiest Division II and even Division III programs in exhibitions and scrimmages.

But that's the only bad news. The good news is, we don't have to dig quite as deep to uncover some truly outstanding nonconference matchups. More of the "big boys" seem willing to get their hands dirty in the early portion of their respective schedules.

The sports calendar will still be packed in the month of November. So, if you can only watch a handful or two of meaningful college basketball games before Feast Week, here are our recommendations.

Your 2026-27 season primers:
Bracketology | Preseason top 25 |
Dickie V's players to watch

Villanova vs. Notre Dame

Nov. 1 | 9:30 a.m. ET | Rome, Italy | FOX

What a new and inventive way to open the season. An all-Catholic contest in front of the Pope -- who happens to be a Nova grad? The Wildcats should be headed back to the NCAA tournament in Kevin Willard's second season, but the Fighting Irish need to make it soon heading into Micah Shrewsberry's fourth year. Notre Dame will keep it close but not quite pull off the upset.

Florida vs. Miami

Nov. 2 | 6 p.m. ET | Tampa, FL | ESPN2

The Gators put their likely preseason No. 1 ranking on the line immediately, facing a Miami squad that has Sweet 16 (and beyond!) potential. The Gators figure to have too much veteran continuity to drop their opener, but the Hurricanes aren't far behind from a talent perspective. This matchup is definitely worth your time heading into "Monday Night Football."

Wake Forest at Vanderbilt

Nov. 5 | 6 p.m. ET | Nashville, TN | ESPN2

The key word here is "at" -- as in, the first power-conference pairing of the season to be played on campus. The Commodores have a first-team All-American in point guard Tyler Tanner and should prevail, but the Demon Deacons are among a large handful of hopeful ACC teams that could surprise. Given recent seasons, it's hard to believe Wake Forest has gone a decade without an NCAA appearance.

UConn vs. Michigan

Nov. 6 | 8 p.m. ET | Boston, MA | TNT

A rematch of the 2026 NCAA title game will get everyone's blood boiling (except UConn coach Dan Hurley, whose blood is always at the highest temperature). For Michigan, Mike Boynton takes over for the departing Dusty May. That and some key personnel losses for the Wolverines should put Hurley and the Huskies in the driver's seat. Revenge is sweet for UConn in a double-digit victory.

Penn State vs. Pittsburgh

Nov. 8 | 8 p.m. ET | Philadelphia, PA | ESPN2

This battle of Pennsylvania isn't all that special on the court, but it marks the start of the famed Palestra's 100th anniversary season (the building opened January 2, 1927). Kudos to the schools for playing there, as well as to the University of Pennsylvania for inviting them. Look for a Pitt win in this one.

Duke vs. Michigan State

Nov. 10 | 7 p.m. ET | Champions Classic | Chicago, IL | ESPN

Game 1 of this year's Champions Classic is a potential Final Four preview. It's also the opening act for Kansas vs. Kentucky in the nightcap, so you might want to set aside the whole evening. The event, after all, has showcased 11 Final Four teams since its inception in the 2011-12 season.

Oklahoma State at Texas A&M

Nov. 12 | 8 p.m. ET | College Station, TX | ESPN2

It says here that the Big 12 will be the next power conference to break through with a double-figure number of NCAA tournament bids. Oklahoma State is a prime candidate to make the leap from bubble to bracket, as second-year coach Steve Lutz has turned things around quickly in Stillwater. I smell a road upset in this one.

Georgia Bulldogs at North Carolina

Nov. 13 | 7 p.m. ET | Chapel Hill, NC | ESPN2

The first true test of the Mike Malone era at North Carolina comes in the form of Mike White's sneaky good Bulldogs. The Tar Heels will hope to make an early statement that things are different, a welcome development after losing to Duke (regular-season finale), Clemson (ACC tournament) and VCU (NCAA tournament) to end the 2025-26 campaign.

New Mexico at Santa Clara

Nov. 14 | 10 p.m. ET | Santa Clara, CA | ESPN+

The Mountain West and West Coast Conference favorites collide in a significant early-season bubble game. The Broncos made the NCAA tourney last year but are still stinging from a narrow loss to Kentucky. Both teams have scheduled this season like they expect to be dancing this time around. We give New Mexico a slight edge.

Illinois at Duke

Nov. 17 | 7 p.m. ET | Durham, NC | ESPN

A pair of projected No. 1 seeds take the court at what figures to be a raucous Cameron Indoor Stadium. In what could be the first of two meetings this season, we like the experience of Illinois only two weeks into the season. But Duke has what it takes to flip the script if there is a second meeting in March (or April!).