Reacting to Mizzou Basketball's SEC Schedule: The Extra Point

Top takeaways from Missouri's upcoming conference slate.

Dec 14, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates reacts to play against the LIU Sharks during the first half at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Watch the video below as Missouri basketball reporter Joey Van Zummeren gives his top thoughts from the Tigers' 2025-2026 conference schedule.

Welcome to Missouri Tigers On SI's "Extra Point," a video series featuring the site's Missouri beat writers. Multiple times a week, the writers provide analysis on a topic concerning the Tigers or the landscape of college sports.

The Southeastern Conference unveiled its full men's basketball slate Wednesday morning, giving dates for the Missouri Tigers' 2025-2026 conference schedule.

READ: Mizzou Women's Basketball Announces 2025-2026 SEC Schedule

What sticks out most about Missouri's schedule is the four-game stretch the Tigers face to open the season, playing Florida, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Auburn. In five matchups against those teams last season, Missouri went 2-3.

That opening stretch will determine the momentum, or lack of it, the Tigers will have heading into the rest of the season. Just splitting those matchups would be a win for Missouri.

READ: Mizzou Basketball Roster Breakdown: Defensive Versatility

Additionally, because those matchups against Florida and Auburn are so early on the schedule, Missouri's home schedule thins out pretty quick in terms of marquee matchups. Students still won't return for classes for the spring semester until a week after the game against Auburn. After those two games, the matchups against Tennessee and Arkansas stand out as the best tickets at Mizzou Arena.

Below is the full schedule for Missouri for the upcoming season, including the non-conference slate, which was announced in June.

Missouri's 2025-2026 Schedule

Non-conference

(All times to be determined unless marked)

EXHIBITION - Oct. 24: vs. Kansas State, 9 p.m.
Nov 3: at Howard
Nov 7: vs. Southeast Missouri State
Nov. 9: vs. VMI
Nov. 12: vs Minnesota
Nov. 17: vs. Prairie View A&M
Nov. 20: vs. South Dakota
Nov. 25: vs. South Carolina State
Nov. 28: vs. Cleveland State
Dec. 2: at Notre Dame (SEC/ACC Challenge)
Dec. 7: vs. Kansas in Kansas City
Dec. 11: vs. Alabama State
Dec. 14: vs. Bethune-Cookman
Dec. 22: vs. Illinois in St. Louis

SEC

Jan. 3 - vs. Florida
Jan. 6/7 - at Kentucky
Jan. 10 - at Ole Miss
Jan. 13/14 - vs. Auburn
Jan. 17 - at LSU
Jan. 20/21 - vs. Georgia
Jan. 24 - vs. Oklahoma
Jan. 27/28 - at Alabama
Jan. 31 - vs. Mississippi State
Feb. 7 - at South Carolina
Feb. 10/11 - at Texas A&M
Feb. 14 - vs. Texas
Feb. 17/18 - vs. Vanderbilt
Feb. 21 - at Arkansas
Feb. 24 - vs. Tennessee
Feb. 28 - at Mississsipppi State
March 3/4 - at Oklahoma
March 7- vs. Arkansas