Villanova Secures Road Date Against Former National Title Foe

Villanova Men’s Basketball already has a series of likely Top 25 matchups on their calendar next season, as they’ll face BYU in the season opener along with two games apiece against teams like UConn, Marquette and St. John’s.

Now, according to a report from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the Wildcats will add another marquee matchup to their schedule: a home-and-home series with Michigan, set to take place in Ann Arbor in 2025 before a contest at Villanova the following season. The series marks a rematch of the 2018 National Championship game, which the Wildcats won handily 79-62. With the Wolverines expected to rank among the top ten to begin the 2025-26 season, a road date will only add to that challenge.

UPDATE: Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports announced on Tuesday, Aug. 5 that the game against the Wolverines will take place in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Head coach Kevin Willard said during a May 14 podcast appearance with Rothstein that Villanova is in a tough spot regarding their schedule. Commitments to play in a Multiple Team Event (MTE) and their three Big 5 games will damage the Wildcats’ strength of schedule, so adding Michigan to the itinerary — at a date not yet announced — will go some way to remedying that.

The MTE will include Queens, Duquesne and Sacred Heart; the matchup for the three Big 5 games remains uncertain, while the season opener against the Cougars will take place in Las Vegas on Nov. 3, a neutral site venue that heavily favors BYU.