A Thanksgiving Day men’s college basketball showdown comes to Kansas City when Arkansas battles Illinois. The game, emanating from T-Mobile Center on Thursday, Nov. 28, will be broadcast live at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.

Arkansas enters the new season with high expectations as Hall of Famer John Calipari takes over in Fayetteville. Calipari, men’s college basketball’s winningest active head coach with 855 victories, has brought his magical touch to the Razorbacks by signing three Top-50 players in the incoming freshmen class and one of the nation’s top transfer classes led by Johnell Davis (led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023) and three former Kentucky standout players in D.J. Wagner, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivišić.

“What a great opportunity CBS is giving Arkansas and Illinois. Thanksgiving is a day that gets all of America – whether you are a sports fan or not – watching sports on TV,” Calipari said. “Being paired with their traditional NFL game will provide tremendous exposure for both programs. Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center is a premier arena that is located close enough that both fan bases can attend. We have a great deal of respect for Coach Underwood and his Illinois program, and we know this game will be one the whole nation will be interested in seeing.”

Illinois is experiencing a similar reloading of its roster after last season’s run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The Fighting Illini added Kylan Boswell (Arizona), Tre White (Louisville) and Carey Booth (Notre Dame) from the transfer portal and a freshman class that is headlined by two Top-30 players in Will Riley and Morez Johnson. The Illini’s freshman class also includes 7-1 Tomislav Ivišić, brother to Arkansas’ Zvonimir Ivišić.

“We are thrilled for this opportunity. Playing in Kansas City – a tremendous basketball city that is near and dear to me – and taking on a great opponent in Arkansas, led by a Hall of Fame Coach in Coach Calipari, is a big test for our team,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “It is an honor for Illinois Basketball to play on CBS on Thanksgiving Day; we know the sports world will be watching.”

Tickets for the game go on public sale on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. CT at AXS.com.