Overview

• The 2025 CBS Sports Classic lineup will feature Ohio State, North Carolina, Kentucky, and St. John’s, replacing UCLA in the annual event.
• St. John’s, under coach Rick Pitino, will face Kentucky, led by former Pitino player Mark Pope, on Dec. 20 in Atlanta.
• The matchup commemorates the 30th anniversary of Pitino’s first national championship with Kentucky in 1996.
• UCLA’s withdrawal from the event is linked to ongoing concerns about travel demands in Big Ten play, as noted by coach Mick Cronin.
• The CBS Sports Classic, established in 2014 and renewed through 2026, continues to showcase marquee college basketball programs.