By Otis Kirk

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas and Arizona met in the NCAA Tournament, but now they will meet again the 2026-27 season according to CBS.

The first game will be played Saturday, Dec. 19, in Phoenix at the Mortgage Matchup Center, where the Phoenix Suns play, as part of the Hall of Fame Series doubleheader that will also include UNLV and SMU.

The two teams met in the West Regional semifinals on March 26 with Arizona taking a 109-88 win over Arkansas. Arizona went to the Final Four where they fell to eventual national champion Michigan 91-73.

The two teams are set to play four games in this series. The second game in 2027-28 will be played in Bud Walton Arena. The third game in 2028-29 is in the McKale Center where Arizona plays its home games. There's an option for a fourth game and is expected to be at a location closer to Arkansas.

The two teams have met nine times with Arkansas holding a 6-3 advantage. This year's game will be the first outside of the NCAA Tournament since Nov. 17, 1995, an 83-73 Arizona win at Bud Walton Arena in the preseason NIT.

Several key players in the Sweet 16 game are off to the NBA. Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas and Trevon Brazile are all expected to be drafted from Arkansas. Arizona has Koa Peat, Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley all also expecting to hear their names called later this month. Acuff Jr. and Burries are expected to lottery picks. Peat could be a lottery pick but seems to have slipped to later in the first round since the NBA Scouting Combine.

Billy Richmond Jr., Jeremiah Wilkinson and the nation's No. 1 recruiting class will be leading Arkansas next season. Arizona's Mo Krivas could have been a lottery pick and certain first-round selection had he stayed in the draft, but opted to return to Arizona. The Wildcats added from both high school and portal recruits.

Arkansas (28-9) and Arizona (36-3) are both expected to in or near the Top 10 of preseason polls this season.