College Basketball Games Today Nov 12, 2026: Ranked Teams in Action, Times and TV
Thursday, November 12, 2026 brings a full slate of college basketball games, with eight ranked teams in action. No. 8 Houston, No. 9 UCLA, No. 13 St. John's, No. 19 Arkansas, No. 20 Michigan, No. 21 USC, No. 23 BYU and No. 25 Nebraska all take the court tonight after a showcase week that already featured the Champions Classic.
Quick answer: On Thursday, November 12, 2026, eight ranked teams play college basketball: Jacksonville State at No. 8 Houston (8:00 p.m. ET), Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 9 UCLA, Colgate at No. 13 St. John's, Robert Morris at No. 19 Arkansas, Marquette at No. 20 Michigan, No. 21 USC at California, Lindenwood at No. 25 Nebraska, and Montana State at No. 23 BYU (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
AP Top 25: Florida, Duke and Illinois Lead the Way
The AP Top 25 for Week 2, published on November 9, 2026, has No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Duke and No. 3 Illinois at the top of the poll. The top four were unchanged from the preseason poll. The biggest mover was UCLA, which surged into the Top 10 after beating Arizona on Opening Night. The Bruins now sit at No. 9, the clearest sign yet that the early-season rankings can shift quickly when a ranked team wins a marquee game. For more on how the season opened, see our college basketball opening week takeaways.
College Basketball Games Today: Full Thursday Schedule
Here are the ranked-team games on the schedule for Thursday, November 12, 2026, all times Eastern:
- Jacksonville State at No. 8 Houston — 8:00 p.m. ET
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 9 UCLA
- Colgate at No. 13 St. John's
- Robert Morris at No. 19 Arkansas
- Marquette at No. 20 Michigan
- No. 21 USC at California
- Lindenwood at No. 25 Nebraska
- Montana State at No. 23 BYU — 9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Most of Thursday's games are buy games, with ranked teams hosting smaller-conference opponents at home. That is normal for this stage of November, when power-conference programs use home dates to build rhythm before the holiday tournaments. Fans can find the full schedule, tickets and coverage through the official team and broadcaster listings.
Three Games to Watch on Thursday
1. Montana State at No. 23 BYU, 9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+
BYU hosts Montana State in the late window, and it is the most watchable of the evening's games because it has a confirmed national broadcast on ESPN+. The No. 23 Cougars get a good early test of how sharp they look in the second week of the season.
2. No. 21 USC at California
USC's trip to California is the only ranked-team game on Thursday where the ranked side is the visitor. The Trojans will want to leave Berkeley with a comfortable win rather than a close call — this is the game most likely to produce a surprise if USC starts slowly.
3. Marquette at No. 20 Michigan
Marquette visiting No. 20 Michigan is the best matchup on paper. Marquette has tournament pedigree, and Michigan is still finding its identity under a top-20 ranking. A competitive game here would tell us more about both teams than any other Thursday matchup.
Houston and UCLA in Buy Games
No. 8 Houston hosts Jacksonville State at 8:00 p.m. ET in the early window, while No. 9 UCLA welcomes Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Both teams are heavy favorites at home, and the value for fans is less about the result than about watching how the rotations look. No. 13 St. John's hosts Colgate, No. 19 Arkansas hosts Robert Morris, and No. 25 Nebraska hosts Lindenwood — games where coaches sort out their benches and young players earn minutes that matter later in the year.
Read Also:
Champions Classic and Florida's Trip to Florida State
Earlier this week, the Champions Classic took center stage on Tuesday, November 10. No. 5 Michigan State faced No. 2 Duke on ESPN, and No. 15 Kansas faced No. 24 Kentucky on ESPN in the season's first big showcase doubleheader. No. 1 Florida also played at Florida State on Tuesday, November 10, on ESPN2. The results of these Tuesday games are not covered in this viewing guide, which focuses on Thursday's schedule.
Looking Ahead: Friday, November 13
The weekend starts early this week. On Friday, November 13, No. 12 Arizona travels to Auburn for a 9:00 p.m. ET game on ESPN2, and Seton Hall visits No. 18 Alabama. Arizona at Auburn is the standout game of the Friday slate, while Alabama will look to defend its home court against a Seton Hall side that can make life difficult for ranked opponents.
How to Watch Thursday's Games
Confirmed broadcast details for Thursday are limited at the time of writing: Montana State at No. 23 BYU is on ESPN+ at 9:00 p.m. ET, and Jacksonville State at No. 8 Houston tips off at 8:00 p.m. ET. Other games will be carried on conference networks and streaming services, so fans should check their team's official schedule page for the exact channel. All viewing information in this guide refers to legal broadcasters and streaming services only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ranked college basketball teams play on Thursday, November 12, 2026?
Eight ranked teams play on Thursday: No. 8 Houston, No. 9 UCLA, No. 13 St. John's, No. 19 Arkansas, No. 20 Michigan, No. 21 USC, No. 23 BYU and No. 25 Nebraska.
What time does Houston play Jacksonville State?
Jacksonville State visits No. 8 Houston at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
What channel is BYU vs. Montana State on?
Montana State at No. 23 BYU tips off at 9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday and is televised on ESPN+.
Who is No. 1 in the AP Top 25 this week?
Florida is No. 1 in the AP Top 25, Week 2 poll, published November 9, 2026. Duke is No. 2 and Illinois is No. 3, with the top four unchanged from the preseason poll.
Why did UCLA jump into the Top 10?
UCLA surged into the Top 10 after beating Arizona on Opening Night. The Bruins are now ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25.
What big games are coming on Friday, November 13?
On Friday, No. 12 Arizona plays at Auburn at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and Seton Hall visits No. 18 Alabama.
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