On Thursday, July 31, Villanova basketball announced in a release that it will face the University of Virginia in a preseason exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 24.

The exhibition will take place at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, NC., marking just the second official appearance by the Wildcats at the arena. It will be the first time that Villanova head coach Kevin Willard and Virginia head coach Ryan Odom lead their new teams in a game setting.

In January 2025, the NCAA changed the rules on preseason exhibition games. Now, teams are allowed to play up to two preseason exhibitions against any other four-year school. In previous seasons, these exhibitions were approved through a waiver process, and the proceeds from the games were donated to a charity. Villanova played Robert Morris in a charity exhibition before the start of the 2024-25 season.

Villanova trails in the all-time series against Virginia, 3-6. The most recent meeting between the two programs was during the 2024-25 series, when Virginia defeated Villanova, 70-60, in the Hall of Fame Series on Nov. 15.

The last time Virginia hosted Villanova at the John Paul Jones Arena was on Dec. 19, 2015, when the Cavaliers defeated the Wildcats, 86-75. Villanova went on to win the 2016 National Championship later that season.

General admission seating will cost $25 and go on sale on Monday, Aug. 4 at 9 a.m., per Virginia Athletics.