UConn nonconference schedule is built to make money, Dan Hurley says
Dan Hurley says UConn’s loaded 2026-27 nonconference schedule is about revenue as much as résumés in the player-pay era.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
UConn’s nonconference schedule for 2026-27 is stacked with brand-name opponents, and coach Dan Hurley says the reason goes beyond testing his team before Big East play.
Hurley said on CBS Sports’ Eye on College Basketball podcast that high-profile games now make more financial sense for the Huskies than paying lower-level opponents to come to campus. With schools now paying players and working under revenue sharing, he said coaches have to think about whether their schedules bring money in or drain it out.
The Huskies’ 2026-27 nonconference lineup is not shy. CBS Sports reported that UConn is set to host Ohio State and Kansas, visit Arizona, and face Michigan, Duke, Illinois and Virginia at neutral sites.
That is seven marquee games before league play, a slate CBS Sports described as among the toughest and most profitable in the country.
Why is UConn playing so many big nonconference games?
Hurley said the math has changed. He told the podcast that buying a home game against a low-major or mid-major opponent costs the school money, while major nonconference games can generate revenue.
In Hurley’s view, that matters more now because UConn is operating in a college sports model where players are being paid and revenue sharing is part of the budget. He said coaches and players should be helping bring in money rather than pulling resources away from the school.
The approach also fits Hurley’s known preference for avoiding softer nonconference schedules. CBS Sports noted that he has long been open about not liking buy games against lower-tier opposition.
UConn has more than regular-season games on the calendar, too. CBS Sports reported that the Huskies also have exhibitions scheduled against Syracuse, Purdue and Michigan State.
How could the schedule help UConn in March?
Hurley said the heavy schedule gives UConn a buffer if the Big East has a weaker season. CBS Sports reported that a strong November and December slate could leave the Huskies with Quad 1 results to use when the NCAA Tournament field and seeds are being weighed.
Hurley’s point was that UConn does not need to win every one of these games for the plan to work. He said teams are not punished the same way for losses against this level of competition, and that winning a fair share can put a program in a strong position for both tournament entry and seeding.
The plan gives UConn two shots at value before conference play begins: a résumé built on major opponents and a schedule Hurley says can help the athletic department’s bottom line.
For a program trying to stay near the front of college basketball, Hurley’s message was plain. The big games are not just for television buzz or bragging rights. In the new player-pay era, he says they are part of the business model.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.