St. John's Basketball Schedule: Every Game, Score, and TV Channel From a Historic Season

The 2025-26 St. John's basketball season will be remembered as a transformative period for the program. Navigating a rigorous Big East schedule and a high-profile non-conference slate, the Red Storm managed to capture both the conference regular season and tournament titles. This success was not a matter of chance but a result of a strategically constructed schedule that tested the team in various environments, from the historic confines of Carnesecca Arena to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden and neutral-site showcases across the country.

The Non-Conference Launchpad

The schedule began in early November with a series of matchups designed to build rhythm while introducing new roster additions to the system. The season opener took place on November 3 against Quinnipiac at Carnesecca Arena, a game that set the offensive tone for the year with a high-scoring 108-74 victory. This was broadcast on FS1, marking the start of a season where national television exposure would be at an all-time high.

One of the earliest and most significant tests arrived quickly on November 8, when St. John's moved to Madison Square Garden to face No. 15 Alabama. Although the Red Storm fell 96-103 in a narrow contest, the game demonstrated that the squad could compete with the highest level of national talent. This matchup was a centerpiece of the early schedule, drawing a massive crowd to the "World's Most Famous Arena."

Following home wins against William & Mary and Bucknell, the team traveled to Las Vegas for the inaugural Players Era Championship during Thanksgiving week. This tournament was a critical component of the 2025-26 schedule, offering three games against elite competition in a neutral-site setting. The schedule in Vegas was grueling:

• November 24: A heartbreaking 82-83 loss to No. 15 Iowa State.
• November 25: A dominant 96-81 bounce-back win against Baylor.
• November 26: A tough 74-85 loss to No. 21 Auburn.

These games, broadcast primarily on TruTV and TNT Sports, provided the necessary seasoning for a team with championship aspirations.

The Mid-December Showcase and Big East Transition

December featured a blend of local rivalries and national marquee matchups. On December 13, the Red Storm hosted Iona at Madison Square Garden, a game that has become a recurring highlight on the schedule. However, the most anticipated non-conference date was December 20, when St. John's traveled to Atlanta for the CBS Sports Classic.

Facing Kentucky at State Farm Arena, this game represented one of the most significant television windows of the season, airing on the CBS flagship network. While the result was a 66-78 loss, the exposure and the level of competition served as a final tune-up before the full immersion into Big East play.

The transition to the conference schedule happened just before the turn of the year. St. John's opened its Big East account with a win against DePaul at Carnesecca Arena on December 16, followed by a successful road trip to Washington, D.C., to beat Georgetown 95-83 on New Year's Eve.

The Big East Gauntlet: January and February

The heart of the St. John's basketball schedule is always the double-round-robin Big East slate. The 2026 portion of the schedule began with a surprising home setback against Providence at MSG on January 3, but this loss proved to be a catalyst for a remarkable run of consistency.

Throughout January, the schedule saw St. John's racking up critical road wins that would eventually define their title campaign. Victories at Butler (January 6), at Creighton (January 10), and at Villanova (January 17) showcased a team that was equally comfortable in hostile environments as they were at home. The January 10 victory in Omaha was particularly notable, as the game was moved into a national spotlight on FOX, highlighting the program's rising status.

February was a month of high-stakes home games. The schedule featured a heavy concentration of matchups at Madison Square Garden, where the Red Storm capitalized on their home-court advantage. On February 6, St. John's delivered one of the most significant wins in recent program history by defeating No. 3 UConn 81-72. This Friday night showdown on FOX served as a declaration that the Red Storm were legitimate contenders for the Big East crown.

The latter half of February included a 81-52 blowout of Creighton and a solid 89-57 win over Villanova, both at MSG. Despite a late road loss to UConn in Hartford on February 25, the team finished the regular season strong, concluding with a road win at Seton Hall on March 6 to secure an 18-2 conference record.

Postseason Dominance: The March Schedule

March is where the schedule shifts from a marathon to a sprint. As the No. 1 seed in the Big East Tournament, St. John's returned to Madison Square Garden for a three-day stretch that solidified their dominance.

• Quarterfinals (March 12): A 85-72 win over Providence.
• Semifinals (March 13): A 78-68 victory over Seton Hall.
• Championship (March 14): A definitive 72-52 win over UConn to sweep the Big East titles.

Following the Big East coronation, the schedule moved to the NCAA Tournament. Entering as a high seed, the Red Storm traveled to San Diego for the opening rounds. On March 20, they handled Northern Iowa with ease (79-53) and followed it up with a hard-fought victory over Kansas on March 22. This run eventually took them to the Sweet Sixteen, marking the deepest tournament advancement for the program in decades.

Broadcasting and Viewing the Red Storm

The 2025-26 season introduced a new era in how fans followed the St. John's basketball schedule. Under the new Big East media rights agreement, coverage was spread across three major partners: Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and TNT Sports.

Fox Sports (FOX, FS1, FS2)

Fox remained the primary home for Big East basketball. The flagship FOX channel broadcast the most significant home games, including the Providence, UConn, Creighton, and Villanova matchups. FS1 served as the workhorse of the schedule, airing seven regular-season games, including the season opener.

NBC Sports and Peacock

A significant shift in the 2025-26 schedule was the integration of Peacock, NBC's streaming service. St. John's had eight contests streamed exclusively on Peacock, including mid-week conference games against Butler and DePaul. This required fans to adapt to a more digital-first viewing experience for about a quarter of the season.

TNT Sports (TNT, TruTV, Max)

The addition of TNT Sports brought a new flavor to the schedule. St. John's was featured on TNT for their February 18 road game at Marquette, while TruTV handled the bulk of the early-season tournament coverage and several late-season non-conference games. All TNT Sports broadcasts were also available for streaming on the Max platform.

Venue Dynamics: MSG vs. Carnesecca Arena

The St. John's basketball schedule is unique due to its split home-court arrangement. In 2025-26, the balance shifted heavily toward Madison Square Garden for conference play, while Carnesecca Arena on the Queens campus hosted the majority of the early non-conference and lower-tier Big East matchups.

Carnesecca Arena Games:

• Quinnipiac (Nov 3)
• William & Mary (Nov 15)
• Bucknell (Nov 20)
• DePaul (Dec 16)
• Harvard (Dec 23)

Madison Square Garden Games:

• Alabama (Nov 8)
• Ole Miss (Dec 6)
• Iona (Dec 13)
• Providence (Jan 3)
• Marquette (Jan 13)
• Seton Hall (Jan 20)
• Butler (Jan 28)
• UConn (Feb 6)
• Xavier (Feb 9)
• Creighton (Feb 21)
• Villanova (Feb 28)
• Georgetown (Mar 3)

The strategic use of MSG for big-ticket games significantly bolstered the team's strength of schedule and provided an environment that mirrored the postseason atmosphere of the Big East Tournament.

Looking Ahead: The 2026-27 Schedule

While the 2025-26 season has concluded, attention is already turning to the 2026-27 schedule. While the full dates will not be released until late summer, several components are already taking shape.

Fans can expect the 2026-27 season to tip off in the first week of November 2026. St. John's is expected to participate in another high-major multi-team event (MTE), similar to the Players Era Championship. The Big East schedule will remain at 20 games, with home-and-home series against all conference rivals.

Major non-conference dates to watch for next season will likely include the return games for any home-and-home series started this year, as well as a probable inclusion in either the CBS Sports Classic or a similar national showcase event. The venue split is expected to remain consistent, with Madison Square Garden hosting the premier weekend matchups.

Full 2025-26 St. John's Basketball Schedule and Results

For archival purposes, here is the complete game-by-game breakdown of the championship season.

* Denotes Big East Conference Game * Denotes Big East Tournament* ** Denotes NCAA Tournament*

This schedule reflects a journey of a team that learned from early-season losses to become a powerhouse in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball. As the 2026-27 cycle begins, the foundation laid by this rigorous schedule will serve as the benchmark for future Red Storm success.