In less than two weeks, NC State men’s basketball will tip off the 2024-25 season as the defending ACC Champions. As highly-anticipated as the banners being raised will be at home, the Wolfpack’s non-conference slate — particularly the games played away from the Lenovo Center — is equally as riveting for NC State fans.

And with less than two months from the Wolfpack’s matchup at Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse, we finally have a time for the non-conference contest. The game will tip-off at 3:15 p.m. ET — 2:15 p.m. CT — on ESPN, a prime spot for arguably the top out of conference matchup on the Wolfpack’s slate.

Not only is it nationally-televised on ESPN, but it will also be sandwiched in between the first day of bowl games. The Celebration Bowl being held at noon on ABC and none of the bowl games will interfere with the broadcast. There are also several other exciting games like Louisville vs. Kentucky — which will air after NC State vs. Kansas on ESPN — and Arizona vs. UCLA on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. ET, but State and Kansas will get top billing in the 3 p.m. slot.

Not only do the Jayhawks have Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams and Dajuan Harris back, but the additions of AJ Storr and Rylan Griffen give Kansas one of the best starting fives in the country. With Jamari McDowell, Zeke Mayo, five-star center Flory Bidunga and NC native Rakease Passmore adding depth, there’s a reason many project the Jayhawks as the No. 1 team in the country.

Kansas and NC State last faced off in Battle 4 Atlantis during the 2022-23 season. The Jayhawks won that game, 80-74, behind a 25-point performance from Gradey Dick and a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double from Jalen Wilson. According to Sports Reference, Kansas and NC State have faced off 13 times since the start of the 1949-50 season, with KU holding a 12-1 record in those games.

But the Wolfpack isn’t lacking star power of its own. With several returning names like Michael O’Connell, Jayden Taylor, Dennis Parker Jr. and Ben Middlebrooks to go along with incoming transfers Mike James, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, Dontrez Styles and Marcus Hill, State has a bevy of talent to contend with KU. Tack on the potential for freshmen Bryce Heard, Paul McNeil Jr. and Trey Parker and this roster should have some X-factors step up early in the season.

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