PHOENIX (June 4, 2026) – Arizona vs. Arkansas and SMU vs. UNLV are the matchups for the 2026 Hall of Fame Series Phoenix, taking place on Saturday, December 19, at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Position Sports, in partnership with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced the event, marking the fourth consecutive year of the Hall of Fame Series Phoenix. 
 
The showcase will feature a likely preseason Top 10 showdown as Arizona, a recent Final Four participant, and Arkansas, led by Hall of Fame coach John Calipari (Class of 2015), meet in a Sweet 16 rematch. SMU, back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017, faces UNLV, who won 18 games in Josh Pastner's first year at the helm.
 
"We're excited to return to the Valley for the fourth consecutive year with another Hall of Fame Series doubleheader," said Melissa Meacham-Grossman, President of Position Sports. "Both SMU and UNLV arrive as programs on the upswing, and Arkansas and Arizona give Valley fans a chance to see their rematch just months after meeting in San Jose. We're proud to keep the tradition of elite-level college basketball in Phoenix going with what promises to be an incredible night of college basketball right before the holidays."
 
The Hall of Fame Series, owned and operated by Valley-based Position Sports, is a collection of high-profile non-conference basketball events featuring top collegiate programs competing in premier venues across the United States and internationally. The series annually showcases marquee men's and women's matchups while celebrating the legacy and impact of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on the game.
 
"Phoenix holds a special place in the history of basketball, and Jerry Colangelo, our Chairman, is at the center of that story," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. "He was instrumental in bringing this arena to life, and transformed the Valley into a basketball community that has embraced the sport at every level. It is fitting that we return to Phoenix with the caliber of matchups this event deserves. Arizona and Arkansas are two of the sport's elite programs, and college basketball fans in the Valley are going to see something special this December."
 
Previous Hall of Fame Series events have been held in Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Toronto, featuring many of the nation's top-ranked programs and drawing national television audiences each season.
 
Fans can visit HOFSeries.com for official hotel information, pre-sale details, and event updates. Further details regarding game times, broadcast details, and media credentials for the event will be shared at a later date. 
 
For more Hall of Fame Series information and updates, please visit HOFSeries.com or follow @HOFSeries on all social platforms.
 

Arizona vs. Arkansas Series History

The Razorbacks lead the all-time series, 6-3. Arizona recently knocked off Arkansas in a 2026 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup in San Jose, Calif., 109-88. Prior to this year's Sweet 16 game, the two teams had not met since November 17, 1995, when Arizona won 83-73 in Fayetteville.
 
Quotes from Head Coaches:
"Getting the opportunity to play in the Hall of Fame Series against a Hall of Fame coach in John Calipari and a great team like Arkansas in front of our fans in Phoenix means a lot, not just to our program, but to the University of Arizona as a whole. We are excited to be part of an event like this that brings Wildcat fans together to create an incredible atmosphere for college basketball."
Tommy Lloyd | Arizona
 
"As a proud member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, participating in this distinguished event means a great deal to me, and it is even more special coming to a city where my dear friend Jerry Colangelo has done so much to build and grow the game. Arizona is one of the premier programs in the country, and a rematch of our Sweet 16 game in Phoenix is exactly the kind of elite non-conference challenge that will prepare our team for conference play and beyond."
John Calipari | Arkansas
 

SMU vs. UNLV Series History

The Mustangs and Rebels will meet for the ninth time, with SMU winning the two most recent matchups in 2019 and '21 as part of a home-and-home series. The all-time series stands at 5-3 in SMU's favor. The two programs were members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) for three seasons (1996-99), and SMU won all three conference matchups (all during 1998-99 season).
 
Quotes from Head Coaches:
"We are excited to play in the Hall of Fame series, one of the premier events in college basketball. Our program has incredible momentum after returning to March Madness, and this is another great opportunity to showcase our Mustangs in a high-profile non-conference matchup."
Andy Enfield | SMU
 
"We are excited to be part of the Hall of Fame Series Phoenix and to represent UNLV on the national stage. Any time you have the opportunity to compete in an event connected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, it is special for the players, the staff, and the fans. We have great respect for SMU and their program, and we're looking forward to the challenge on December 19 at Mortgage Matchup Center. This will be a first-class event, and we're grateful to be participating in it."
Josh Pastner | UNLV
 

Hall of Fame Series Phoenix Series History & Upcoming Schedule

 

2023 W: Arizona State (80), Fresno State (76)  W: Gonzaga (81), Arizona (69) M: Northwestern (65), Arizona State (46) M: Arizona (87), Alabama (74)   2024 W: Grand Canyon (70), Arizona State (59) M: Arizona State (87), Grand Canyon (76)

2025 M: Stanford (77), Colorado (68) M: Arizona (68), San Diego State (45)   2026 M: SMU vs. UNLV M: Arizona vs. Arkansas

   
About Position Sports
Position Sports, established in 2005, is a premium event production and brand marketing firm that specializes in event operations, activation development, media relations, and digital engagement. Over the years, Position Sports has worked with many of the world's leading brands, including Nike, Jordan Brand, Red Bull, the Basketball Hall of Fame, ESPN Events, USA Basketball, Upper Deck, MLB, and T-Mobile in nearly every major U.S. city and on a global scale. Position Sports provides clients with the expanded strategic direction needed to succeed in the sports marketing arena, also known as Positioning. To learn more, visit positionsports.com or follow @positionsports on X and Instagram.
 
About Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 150 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophallU.
 
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. Learfield is the exclusive sales agency for the Hall of Fame Series and oversees all sponsorships, in-venue signage, and advertising for the series on behalf of Position Sports.