CHICAGO (August 19, 2025) – Northwestern and Oklahoma State will meet in a Thanksgiving Day contest at the United Center in Chicago this coming season in what will be the first all-time meeting between the programs. The teams have also agreed to a return game in Oklahoma City during the 2026-27 season; future information will be announced at a later date.

The matchup between Northwestern and Oklahoma State adds another high-level matchup to the Nov. 27 schedule at the iconic venue that already includes a nationally televised tilt featuring Duke and Arkansas that will tip at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Game time and TV designation for the Wildcats-Cowboys contest will be announced in the coming weeks.

Travel packages are now available for fans from all four schools looking to enhance their gameday experience. Travel packages can be secured by visiting www.cbsthanksgivingclassic.com/travel. Official travel packages provide the most convenient and premium way to experience both games of this exciting doubleheader. Packages include game tickets and hotel accommodations at either the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile or the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel. Tickets for the event will go on sale Oct. 2, but fans can register for the exclusive presale taking place Oct. 1 at www.cbsthanksgivingclassic.com/tickets.

Northwestern is entering its 13th season under head coach Chris Collins, a Chicago-area native who has established a winning pedigree with the Wildcats. The program earned consecutive NCAA Tournament berths in 2023 and 2024, advancing to the second round each season. They will be playing just their third regular-season game at the United Center in their history but have played at the venue on a regular basis as part of the Big Ten Tournament. Northwestern will be led this season by senior Nick Martinelli, who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors a year ago after averaging 20.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

“We’re really excited about the opportunity to stay in Chicago for Thanksgiving against a great opponent like Oklahoma State,” said Collins. “Playing in the United Center is always really special for our program and should make for a high-level game in a postseason-like environment.”

Oklahoma State begins its second season with Steve Lutz as the program’s head coach. Lutz guided the Cowboys to the quarterfinals of the NIT in his first year with the team. The Cowboys return one starter from last year’s squad, rising senior Robert Jennings II, who started all 35 games for the team, and welcome a bevy of high-major transfers with All-Conference caliber talent, including Kanye Cleary, Vyctorius Miller, Anthony Roy, Isaiah Coleman and Parsa Fallah, among others. The Thanksgiving Day game against Northwestern will be the Cowboys first contest ever at the United Center.

“We’re looking forward to being part of a great college basketball atmosphere on Thanksgiving Day,” said Lutz. “Competing at the United Center against a strong opponent like Northwestern will be a valuable experience for our group as we gear up for Big 12 play. It will be a fun day of basketball.”

It will be a reunion of sorts for Collins and Duke head coach Jon Scheyer, who both have strong connections to the area. Collins and Scheyer are both graduates of Glenbrook North High School in suburban Northbrook, Ill., both garnered Illinois Mr. Basketball accolades (Collins in 1992 and Scheyer in 2006) and both had heralded careers as college players with the Blue Devils. Collins, who spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach with the Blue Devils before being hired at Northwestern in 2013, was the lead recruiter in securing Scheyer’s commitment to Duke, where he would become an All-American and NCAA Champion in 2010.

Intersport, a Chicago-based sports marketing and events agency, will manage all aspects of both the Duke-Arkansas and the Northwestern-Oklahoma State contests.

To receive the latest event news, ticket information and more, follow Intersport Basketball on Twitter (X) and Instagram at @IntersportHoops. To view the most up-to-date schedule of Intersport basketball events for the 2025-26 season, please see the attached PDF.

About Intersport

Intersport is an award-winning agency that fills the empty space between marketing campaigns and consumers—helping brands make more meaningful connections. Its industry-leading team offers expert insights in content marketing, experiential marketing, hospitality, partnership consulting and platform development. The Chicago-based agency also owns and operates events across the professional and collegiate sports landscape, including basketball, football, golf, pickleball and volleyball. Intersport has been headquartered in Chicago since its inception in 1985 and has an additional office in Detroit. Learn more at www.intersport.global and on social media (LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook).

About United Center

The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls (NBA) and Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), is a globally recognized and multi-use entertainment facility that has welcomed more than 70 million fans since opening in 1994. The United Center hosts more than 200 events each year, including the best sporting events, musical performers, family shows and special events in the industry. The arena also serves as the anchor for The 1901 Project, a $7 billion transformative neighborhood investment where the unifying power of sports, music and culture connects the city of Chicago. A commitment to creating iconic stories, providing superior service and creating economic opportunities makes the United Center one of the premiere venues in the world. For more information, visit www.unitedcenter.com and www.The1901ProjectChicago.com.