The men's college basketball season kicked off yesterday with an entertaining game between Notre Dame and Vilanova in Rome, Italy. The full slate of games begins tonight and to kick off the season, we're naming the top games to watch this season on NBC and Peacock.

No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 19 Texas Tech (November 10th, Peacock & NBCSN)

Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini make the return of a home-and-home series against Big 12 powerhouse Texas Tech. Illinois made a run to the Final Four last season for the first time since 2005 before falling to UConn.

A European-rich flavor led to 28 wins and a dynamic offense. David Mirkovic returns but is dealing with a foot injury and is expected to miss significant time. Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks will thrive in this system as a big guard that can handle the ball and shoot.

Texas Tech has reloaded after a Second Round exit last season headlined by the return of Darrion Williams, who played at Tech from 2024-25 before transferring to NC State last season.

The Red Raiders star big man JT Toppin is also expected to miss time as he recovers from a knee injury. Regardless, Grant McCasland's team will once again be a force in the Big 12. This matchup will have significant impact on NCAA Tournament seeding.

No. 11 Louisville vs. No. 16 Michigan (December 5th, Peacock & NBCSN)

After two seasons of disappointing postseason exits, Pat Kelsey did not mess around and spent big in the transfer portal, bringing in Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Jackson Shelstad (Oregon) and Seth Trimble (North Carolina) among others. Time will tell if the spending pays off, but on paper the Cardinals have a strong roster.

Michigan said goodbye to Dusty May after winning a national title in just two seasons under his leadership and Mike Boynton now leads the charge. Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney are back to lead the backcourt as the Wolverines look to backfill other roster losses with the No. 6-ranked freshman class and three of four transfers being centers.

No. 18 Iowa State vs. No. 10 Houston (January 13th, Peacock & NBCSN)

T.J. Otzelberger has the Iowa State program humming but has yet to reach a Final Four. Veteran guard Tamin Lipsey is set to play after getting a court injunction for a fifth year. That is much needed as the Cyclones do not return much of last year's rotation.

Houston is in a similar situation to Iowa State but have made a Final Four and national title game, coming up short over the years of Kelvin Sampson's dynastic reign. The Cougars must replace the trio that led them last year (Kingston Flemings, Emmanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan) that are all in the NBA.

No. 16 Michigan vs. No. 21 USC (January 23rd, NBC)

The Wolverines take on USC in a showcase Big Ten matchup on NBC. Trojans head coach Eric Musselman doesn't get "The Importer" nickname for nothing, with seven transfers and four freshmen joining the program. Rodney Rice is an all-conference caliber guard and returns from injury after playing in just six games a year ago.

Transfers KJ Lewis (Georgetown) and Eric Reibe (UConn) will immediately contribute as USC tries to make its first March Madness under Musselman.

No. 22 UCLA vs. No. 3 Illinois (February 2nd, Peacock & NBCSN)

The Bruins turn to junior guard Trent Perry to be the leading scorer after Donovan Dent and Tyler Bilodeua departed. An 8th-ranked transfer class will help Mick Cronin reload after two seasons of bowing out in the Second Round. UCLA gets a great opportunity to show progression with a tilt against Illinois.

No. 4 UConn vs. Providence (January 20th, Peacock & NBCSN)

UConn made yet another Final Four run under Dan Hurley, losing to Michigan in the title game. The Huskies continue to be the standard of the Big East, and this season is more of the same. Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins will lead the charge as Solo Ball is set to miss the entire season (wrist).

The Friars' welcome new head coach Bryan Hodgson, looking to spark a new direction for the program, missing the last three NCAA Tournaments. Nine transfers is a clean slate of a roster as Providence tries to regain its status in the Big East.

No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 16 Michigan (February 9th, Peacock)

One of the games of the year in the Big Ten, this late-season matchup will impact tournament seeding as both teams try to bolster its resume ahead of March.

Indiana vs. No. 12 Arkansas (November 17th, Peacock & NBCSN)

An intriguing non-conference matchup at MSG, Indiana tries to add an important win to the resume after missing last season's tournament with an 18-14 record. Darian DeVries hit the portal hard with eight transfers, most notably Markus Burton (Notre Dame), Bryce Lindsay (Villanova) and Samet Yigitoglu (SMU).

A tale as old as time, John Calipari brought in a stacked recruiting class, this year's No. 1 led by five-stars Jordan Smith Jr. and Abdou Toure among the eight-man class. The high-flying Razorbacks have made back-to-back Sweet 16 runs and will try to go further in March with a young team.

No. 24 Vanderbilt vs. Ohio State (November 24th, Peacock & NBCSN)

Point guard Tyler Tanner returns to Nashville as one of the best players in the country. Vanderbilt won its most games in a season in program history last season with 27, but a heart-breaking Second Round loss led Mark Byington's squad into disarray. A top 10-ranked transfer and recruiting class will put the Commadores right back in the mix this season.

The Buckeyes just made the NCAA Tournament last year after going 21-13. Bruce Thornton is gone, so John Mobley has the keys to the offense looking to bring more success to Columbus this season.

No. 6 Michigan State vs. Indiana (February 23rd, Peacock)

Tom Izzo is the gift that keeps on giving. The Spartans are one of the favorites in the Big Ten, led by point guard Jeremiah Fears. He is the face of the program as a gritty, efficient player who plays on both ends. A sneaky good recruiting class (No. 8 overall) injects some talent and youth to complement the numerous veterans.

Indiana gets to host the Spartans in a late-season matchup, with the result offering massive upside to the Hoosiers resume.

No. 20 Alabama vs. Iowa (December 21st, Peacock)

SEC giant Alabama and Nate Oats are once again one of the best teams in the country after another Sweet 16 run and 25-win season. Some key losses will force Aden Holloway and Amari Allen to shoulder the offensive load but a 3rd-ranked freshman class will bring young blood to the Crimson Tide.

Iowa made a Cinderella-like run to the Elite 8 in Ben McCollum's first year. Bennett Stirtz is now in the NBA, and the Hawkeyes will begin a new chapter with several roster losses. Limited additions signal a tough task to replicate last season's success.

Baylor vs. No. 17 Kansas (February 17th, Peacock & NBCSN)

Baylor has gone two seasons with no tournament appearances, including a 17-17 season a year ago, a far cry from the standard Scott Drew has built in Waco. He brings in transfer Kayden Mingo (Penn State) and his five-star freshman brother Dylan to try to kick start a rebound.

Bill Self has not been to a Sweet 16 since 2022. That feels like it should be impossible given Kansas' success over the years. Nonetheless, eight incoming freshmen, including No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes, usher in a new version of the Jayhawks.

Syracuse vs. No. 13 St. John’s (November 15th, Peacock & NBCSN)

The Orange are beginning a new era with program legend Gerry McNamara, looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. McNamara spent two seasons at Siena, winning the MAAC (now Metro Conference) championship last season.

Legend Rick Pitino enters year four leading the Red Storm on the back of two straight 30+ win seasons. He brought in one of the best transfers in the country in Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor) and added former Orange forward Donnie Freeman. Six incoming freshmen, five of which are international prospects highlights a growing approach in college basketball.

No. 9 Virginia vs. Maryland (November 13th, Peacock & NBCSN)

Head coach Ryan Odom had a terrific debut season in Charlottesville, winning 30 games but falling early in March Madness with a second-round loss to Tennessee. Thijs De Ridder is a national Player of the Year candidate leading a largely retained roster with four transfers coming in as the Cavaliers try to reach the next level.

Maryland had a horrible season in year one under Buzz Williams, tying the program record for most losses in a season (21). The Terrapins will try to erase that mark with a revamped roster, including seven transfers and an 11th ranked freshman class lead by five-star recruit Baba Oladotun.

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Source: Yahoo Sports