Creighton has plenty of history with Gonzaga, Baylor and Kansas State. More will be made throughout the Bluejays’ stacked nonconference schedule for the 2025-26 season, announced Tuesday.
CU hosts Iowa State on Oct. 17 for the beginning of a home-and-home exhibition series, and Colorado State on Oct. 25 for another exhibition, but the season officially starts Nov. 5 when South Dakota comes to the CHI Health Center.
It’ll be the 16th straight year the Jays open at home. The last time they didn’t, Dana Altman was coach.
Then comes the first of a few marquee matchups.
And for being 1,300 miles apart, Creighton and Gonzaga know each other quite well.
CU heads to GU on Nov. 11 to start their second home-and-home in a decade — the 12th all-time meeting between the two programs, and the first since the Bluejays beat the Bulldogs, searching for the second weekend of the NCAA tournament for the 10th time in 11 years, in the 2021 Sweet 16.
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Before that, GU won 102-93 in Omaha in 2018 and 91-74 in Spokane in 2017. More than a decade ago, Grant Gibbs transferred from GU to CU, and two summers ago, Ryan Nembhard left the nest for the kennel.
Creighton hosts a pair of mid-majors in Maryland Eastern Shore (Nov. 13) and North Dakota (Nov. 19) — teams that went a combined 18-46 last season — before another Thanksgiving voyage to Las Vegas for the second installment of the NIL-driven Players Era Festival.
The Jays will face a pair of familiar foes to kick off Thanksgiving week. They’ll play Baylor on Nov. 24 and Iowa State on Nov. 25. (With either a consolation or championship game on Nov. 26 or Nov. 27.)
A decade after BU eliminated Doug McDermott-led CU in 2014, Creighton beat Baylor in 2023 en route to the Elite Eight. Sixteenth-year coach Greg McDermott gets an official crack at his old school when the Bluejays see the Cyclones for the second time in six weeks.
Creighton’s annual meeting with in-state rival Nebraska is set for Dec. 7 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. They’ve traded blows as of late, with the road team winning the past three matchups.
NU beat CU 74-63 last season behind five Huskers in double figures.
The last time Nebraska won in Omaha, Creighton exacted revenge by walking into Lincoln the season after and leaving with an 89-60 win — the largest margin of victory in the longstanding series — after Aurora native Baylor Scheierman dropped 24 point, including six 3s, and 10 rebounds with his friends and family in the stands.
Kansas State comes to Omaha on Dec. 13 for the biggest home game on Creighton’s nonconference slate.
CU and KSU met in the first round of the 2018 NCAA tournament, and the Wildcats won 69-59 to advance to a second-round matchup with UMBC, which famously beat Virginia in the first-ever win for a No. 16 seed.
Mitch Ballock’s 16 points weren’t enough that day to overcome a combined 35 from KSU’s Barry Brown and Mike McGuirl.
Creighton finishes nonconference play Dec. 22 at home against Utah Tech — formerly known as Dixie State.
Creighton’s 2025-26 nonconference schedule
Oct. 17: Iowa State (exhibition)
Oct. 25: Colorado State
Nov. 5: South Dakota
Nov. 11: at Gonzaga
Nov. 13: Maryland Eastern Shore
Nov. 19: North Dakota
Nov. 24: Baylor (Players Era Festival)
Nov. 25: Iowa State (PEF)
Nov. 26: TBD (PEF)
Dec. 2: Nicholls State
Dec. 7: at Nebraska
Dec. 13: Kansas State
Dec. 22: Utah Tech
Photos: Our favorite photos from the 2024-25 Creighton men's basketball season
Creighton's Pop Isaacs (2) goes up for a 3-pointer s head coach Greg McDermott motions in the background during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) shoots a layup during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Villanova at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.
Creighton players cheer from the bench during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Creighton's Ty Davis (9), left, and Jasen Green (0) celebrate after their victory over Xavier in a men's college basketball game at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) walks away after addressing fans during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Creighton's Mason Miller (13) poses for a portrait during Creighton men's basketball media day in Omaha on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) goes up for a layup against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Creighton's Fredrick King (33) goes up for a shot against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and Sterling Knox (4) celebrate with head coach Greg McDermott after his 328 win at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) goes up for a 3-pointer against Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Creighton mascot Billy Bluejay dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
Creighton players celebrate after their fans rushed the court after defeating Kansas, 76-63, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up for a shot above Seton Hall's Emmanuel Okorafor (23) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
Seton Hall's Garwey Dual (33) dunks the ball against Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) is celebrated after a call agaisnt Seton Hall's Jahseem Felton (15) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) reacts after a basket against Xavier during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Billy Bluejay waves a flag during player introductions before the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) dribbles the ball against Marquette during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
Creighton's Mason Miller (13) looks to pass the ball away from Marquette's Kam Jones (1) during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Connecticut at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up to dunk the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) celebrates going into a timeout after dunking the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against DePaul at CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) walks out during pre-game introductions before the first half af a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) carries his son Tommy Jay as he walks out during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
