Arkansas to Face Arizona in Hall of Fame Series Phoenix Dec. 19
PHOENIX – Arizona vs. Arkansas and SMU vs. UNLV are the matchups for the 2026 Hall of Fame Series Phoenix, taking place on Saturday, December 19, at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Position Sports, in partnership with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced the event, marking the fourth consecutive year of the Hall of Fame Series Phoenix.
The showcase will feature a likely preseason Top 10 showdown as Arizona, a recent Final Four participant, and Arkansas, led by Hall of Fame coach John Calipari (Class of 2015), meet in a Sweet 16 rematch. SMU, back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017, faces UNLV, which won 18 games in Josh Pastner’s first year at the helm.
“We’re excited to return to the Valley for the fourth consecutive year with another Hall of Fame Series doubleheader,” said Melissa Meacham-Grossman, President of Position Sports. “Both SMU and UNLV arrive as programs on the upswing, and Arkansas and Arizona give Valley fans a chance to see their rematch just months after meeting in San Jose. We’re proud to keep the tradition of elite-level college basketball in Phoenix going with what promises to be an incredible night of college basketball right before the holidays.”
The Hall of Fame Series, owned and operated by Valley-based Position Sports, is a collection of high-profile non-conference basketball events featuring top collegiate programs competing in premier venues across the United States and internationally. The series annually showcases marquee men’s and women’s matchups while celebrating the legacy and impact of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on the game.
“Phoenix holds a special place in the history of basketball, and Jerry Colangelo, our Chairman, is at the center of that story,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “He was instrumental in bringing this arena to life, and transformed the Valley into a basketball community that has embraced the sport at every level. It is fitting that we return to Phoenix with the caliber of matchups this event deserves. Arizona and Arkansas are two of the sport’s elite programs, and college basketball fans in the Valley are going to see something special this December.”
Previous Hall of Fame Series events have been held in Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Toronto, featuring many of the nation’s top-ranked programs and drawing national television audiences each season.
Fans can visit HOFSeries.com for official hotel information, pre-sale details, and event updates. Further details regarding game times, broadcast details, and media credentials for the event will be shared at a later date.
For more Hall of Fame Series information and updates, please visit HOFSeries.com or follow @HOFSeries on all social platforms.
Arizona vs. Arkansas Series History
The Razorbacks lead the all-time series, 6-3. Arizona recently knocked off Arkansas in a 2026 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup in San Jose, Calif., 109-88. Prior to this year’s Sweet 16 game, the two teams had not met since November 17, 1995, when Arizona won 83-73 in Fayetteville.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“As a proud member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, participating in this distinguished event means a great deal to me, and it is even more special coming to a city where my dear friend Jerry Colangelo has done so much to build and grow the game. Arizona is one of the premier programs in the country, and a rematch of our Sweet 16 game in Phoenix is exactly the kind of elite non-conference challenge that will prepare our team for conference play and beyond.”
John Calipari | Arkansas
“Getting the opportunity to play in the Hall of Fame Series against a Hall of Fame coach in John Calipari and a great team like Arkansas in front of our fans in Phoenix means a lot, not just to our program, but to the University of Arizona as a whole. We are excited to be part of an event like this that brings Wildcat fans together to create an incredible atmosphere for college basketball.”
Tommy Lloyd | Arizona
Hall of Fame Series Phoenix Series History & Upcoming Schedule
2023
W: Arizona State (80), Fresno State (76)
W: Gonzaga (81), Arizona (69)
M: Northwestern (65), Arizona State (46)
M: Arizona (87), Alabama (74)
2024
W: Grand Canyon (70), Arizona State (59)
M: Arizona State (87), Grand Canyon (76)
2025
M: Stanford (77), Colorado (68)
M: Arizona (68), San Diego State (45)
2026
M: SMU vs. UNLV
M: Arizona vs. Arkansas
