What is UK’s all-time record against Big 12 opponents?
By Samuel Hahn Aug 3, 2025, 6:15am EDT 0 Comments / 0 New
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Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Samuel Hahn Samuel Hahn is a writer for the SB Nation community for the Kentucky Wildcats: A Sea of Blue. He covers the general college football and basketball.
Today, we are taking a look at the Kentucky Wildcats’ record against every Big 12 team, both in regular season and NCAA Tournament play.
Compared to the Big Ten, UK has fared much better against these schools and holds winning records against every one of them except Arizona. In NCAA Tournament history, the 16 teams that make up the conference today have had an absolutely massive impact on Kentucky’s basketball success — five of their eight titles came from beating these schools. Five! They are 5-1 in such title games, with the lone loss to Arizona in 1997.
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While a definitive all-time record against the current Big 12 conference is complex to calculate due to conference realignments, it is clear that Kentucky has a long and successful history against many of its teams. Based on historical data, Kentucky holds a winning record against most of the teams that currently make up the Big 12, with the notable exception of Arizona.
A closer look at some of the key matchups reveals:
Kansas: The rivalry with the Jayhawks is one of the most storied in college basketball, and Kentucky holds a winning record in the series.
Baylor: Kentucky has a favorable record against the Bears.
Texas: With Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC in 2024, these matchups will become conference games, adding a new chapter to their historical rivalry. Kentucky has faced off against Texas multiple times in non-conference play, including in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Arizona: The Wildcats’ only losing record against a current Big 12 team is against the Arizona Wildcats, including a memorable loss in the 1997 NCAA Championship game.
The Wildcats’ history against Big 12 teams is not just about regular-season games. The article notes that five of Kentucky’s eight national championships came from defeating teams that are now in the Big 12. This highlights the significant role that these matchups have played in the history of Kentucky basketball.
Kentucky Basketball against the Big 12
What is UK’s all-time record against Big 12 opponents?
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Samuel Hahn Samuel Hahn is a writer for the SB Nation community for the Kentucky Wildcats: A Sea of Blue. He covers the general college football and Basketball.
Today, we are taking a look at the Kentucky Wildcats’ record against every Big 12 team, both in regular season and NCAA Tournament play.
Compared to the Big Ten, UK has fared much better against these schools and holds winning records against every one of them except Arizona. In NCAA Tournament history, the 16 teams that make up the conference today have had an absolutely massive impact on Kentucky’s basketball success — five of their eight titles came from beating these schools. Five! They are 5-1 in such title games, with the lone loss to Arizona in 1997.
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UK’s All-Time Dominance: A Deep Dive into the Wildcats’ Record Against the Big 12
The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball program has a long and storied history, with its success often defined by its performance against the nation’s elite. When it comes to matchups against teams from the Big 12 conference, Kentucky has a remarkable track record of success, a legacy built over decades of memorable regular season and NCAA Tournament clashes.
As a recent article on the topic highlights, the Wildcats have historically “fared much better against these schools” compared to other major conferences, maintaining a winning record against every current Big 12 opponent except for one: Arizona. This is particularly significant given the Big 12’s status as a perennial powerhouse in college basketball.
The Wildcats’ historical dominance against the conference extends far beyond simple win-loss records. The article emphasizes the profound impact these matchups have had on Kentucky’s championship pedigree. A staggering five of the program’s eight national titles were won by defeating a team that is now a member of the Big 12. This speaks to a recurring theme in UK’s championship seasons: overcoming a formidable Big 12 opponent on the sport’s biggest stage.
Of course, no rivalry is without its blemishes, and the article correctly points out the one major exception to Kentucky’s Big 12 success story. The Wildcats hold a losing record against the Arizona Wildcats, a rivalry that includes the heartbreaking 1997 national championship game, a loss that denied Kentucky its third title in a row.
While the Big 12 has undergone significant changes in recent years with conference realignments, the historical data remains a testament to Kentucky’s enduring success. Looking at the head-to-head records against some of the conference’s most prominent members, a clear pattern emerges. Kentucky holds a winning record against Kansas, one of the sport’s most iconic programs, and has historically enjoyed success against other teams like Baylor and Texas. These rivalries, whether long-standing or more recent, have consistently produced high-stakes, high-intensity matchups that have shaped the landscape of college basketball. The legacy of Kentucky’s Big 12 dominance is not just a matter of statistics, but a narrative woven into the very fabric of the program’s greatest triumphs.
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