On Monday, the Associated Press released its preseason college basketball top 25 poll, and four of Memphis’ non-conference opponents appeared on the poll. In addition to the four ranked teams, three non-conference opponents received votes, and Arkansas, who the Tigers will play in an exhibition game, also appeared on the poll.

Penny Hardaway has always put together tough non-conference schedules, and this will be another daunting schedule for Memphis.

Texas comes in as the highest-ranked opponent on the Tigers’ schedule, debuting at No. 7, and Hardaway’s team will travel to Austin for that game on December 16. Memphis will also travel to Nashville to play No. 24 Vanderbilt in early November for another road game against a top 25 team.

Hardaway’s team will see No. 18 Iowa State in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to start the season in a neutral-site contest.

Outside of those three games, the Tigers will host the remaining four teams listed in or around the top 25.

Memphis will start the season with four straight games against teams in or around the top 25 before hosting Evansville on November 22. Hardaway’s team will start the season vs. No. 18 Iowa State, home against VCU, on the road No. 24 Vanderbilt before hosting No. 11 Louisville.

That’s a brutal stretch to start the season, but it will gave Hardaway a good idea of who his team is early in the year. KenPom currently predicts the Tigers to lose all four of those game to start the year.

In addition to the non-conference opponents, Memphis will play Arkansas in an exhibition game on Wednesday, October 28. The Razorbacks debuted at No. 12 in the AP poll.

*Listed in order of schedule*

No. 12 Arkansas (Exhibition)

Arkansas brought in the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, including three top 20 players in the class of 2026. Combo guard Jordan Smith Jr. looks like he could be one of the best freshmen in the country, while small forward JJ Andrews and power forward Abdou Toure will also play big rolls for the Razorbacks. John Calipari also returns Billy Richmond III, who averaged 11.2 points and 44.3 rebounds as a sophomore.

No. 18 Iowa State

Iowa State went 29-8 last season and appeared in the Sweet 16, but it lost several key players from last year’s team. Tamin Lipsey, who averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds last year, is looking to return for his fifth season of eligibility, but it’s unclear if he will be eligible or not.

RV VCU (12)

The Rams went 28-8 last season, and they return several players from last season, including forward Lazar Djokovic. The forward averaged 13.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per season last year, and he looks to lead this VCU team.

Phil Martelli Jr. added Blake Harper from Creighton this offseason. Harper averaged 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a freshman at Howard.

No. 24 Vanderbilt

Memphis will travel to Nashville to play Vanderbilt on November 10 after losing to the Commodores at home last season. Vanderbilt beat the Tigers 77-70 in overtime in a game where both teams shot under 37 percent from the field.

Mark Byington returns point guard Tyler Tanner after he averaged 19.5 points and 5.1 assists last year.

No. 11 Louisville

Louisville brought in the No. 2 transfer portal class, according to 247Sports, and Pat Kelsey will look to build off last season’s 24-11 record. Like Iowa State, the Cardinals’ Seth Trimble is looking for a fifth season after transferring from North Carolina.

Trimble averaged 14 points, 3.8 rebounds and three assists for the Tar Heels last year.

RV Grand Canyon (2)

Some people view Grand Canyon as the best mid-major team in the country, and Bryce Drew returns a pair of starters who averaged 14 or more points last year. Guard Jaden Henley led the team last year with 17.7 points and 5.7 rebounds, while guard Makaih Williams averaged 14 points as a junior.

Henley, NC State transfer Tre Holloman and Baylor transfer Dan Skillings Jr. are all awaiting eligibility rulings.

No. 7 Texas

Texas is viewed as one of the top SEC teams heading into the season, and they brought in the No. 5 transfer portal in the country. The Longhorns return big man Matas Vokietaitis, who started his career at FAU.

RV Utah State (2)

The Tigers will host Utah State in February for the second leg of the home-and-home agreement. The Aggies beat Memphis 99-75 in Logan last year.

Ben Jacobsen replaces Jerrod Calhoun after he accepted the Cincinnati job during the offseason, and he returns several players from last year’s team, including Mason Falslev.

Tehe guard averaged 16 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Aggies last season and scored 20 points against the Tigers last year.

Source: Yahoo Sports