VILLANOVA, Pa. - A pair of former BIG EAST rivals will open the 2026-27 Men's Basketball exhibition slate in October, it was announced today.

Villanova, fresh off a 24-9 campaign under first-year head coach Kevin Willard, visits Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 11 at Jersey Mike's Arena. The Wildcats and Scarlet Knights were league rivals from 1996-2013 before the Scarlet Knights departed for the Big Ten Conference. 

Game time will be announced at a later date.

The Wildcats' full non-conference schedule, including exhibition contests, is set to be released in the coming days.