DePaul basketball recently unveiled their non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The Blue Demons look to improve upon their previous, going 9-2 in non-conference matchups. With that in mind, here are the 5 most intriguing non-conference games for DePaul.
These rankings come in no particular order. DePaul basketball’s non-conference schedule was announced on Jun. 12.
#1: DePaul vs Loyola Chicago (Exhibition)
This along with the next one on the list are exhibition matches, they don’t count but they make for an interesting matchup.
Whenever these two face off, the Red Line Rivalry comes back into the forefront. Named so after the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) red line. Both schools’ campuses are located on a stop for this line, with DePaul at Fullerton, and Loyola at, well, Loyola.
The rivalry between DePaul basketball and their neighbors in the Loyola Chicago Ramblers, has seen both teams face each other 41 times since the 1949-50 season, where both schools became classified as major schools, according to Sports Reference.
The Blue Demons have won 31 times against their rivals. Their last official matchup saw DePaul win 78-72 in overtime in the 2022-23 season.
In total, these two institutions have competed on the court 57 times, with DePaul basketball winning the all time series 39-18. Before this past season, began, these two teams faced off in a secret scrimmage, where DePaul won 81-70.
#2: DePaul @ Notre Dame (Exhibition)
The Blue Demons, second only to their history with Marquette, have a long history with Fighting Irish, with both teams seeing each other 93 times since the 1949-50 season. Unlike the Red Line Rivalry, DePaul basketball hasn’t had the best of luck against Notre Dame, only winning 38 times since that stretch.
In total, these two teams have seen each other 106 times, with the Blue Demons only winning 44 times, including an 11-game losing streak to Notre Dame. The first time these schools met was in 1912 where DePaul lost 11-58.
Notre Dame hosts the Blue Demons after a lackluster 15-18 season, going 8-12 in ACC conference play.
These two teams haven’t seen each other since 2018, where DePaul lost 70-95. Max Strus led the team in scoring with 15 points.
#3: DePaul vs Chicago State
Unlike the first two, there’s no long history or local rivalry between DePaul basketball and the Chicago State Cougars.
These two local neighbors have only seen each other 17 times, with the Blue Demons winning each game. Since 2010, the Blue Demons have seen blowout wins over and over, including a 114-81 win in 2010 and a 109-61 win in 2016.
The last time these two teams squared off was during former head coach Tony Stubblefield’s infamous 3-29 win season, with that game being the final win of the season.
#4: DePaul vs Gardner Webb
This game has the most unique story out of this entire list, and it could be argued as the most intriguing and exciting game if this was an ordered list.
These two teams have a mutual connection in head coach Chris Holtmann. The Runnin’ Bulldogs gave Holtmann his first head coaching job in college basketball, where he coached the team for three years. His best year was his final season where he led the team to a 21-13 overall record and 11-5 conference record in the Big South. After that season, he left to coach at Butler.
Holtmann’s first introduction to DePaul basketball was in the one and only matchup, where Holtmann and the Runnin’ Bulldogs won 71-59.
#5: DePaul @ Wichita State
This is a rematch of last year’s victory for DePaul basketball. In Holtmann’s first season as the coach for the Blue Demons, DePaul won 91-72 at home in the Wintrust Arena.
This was a matchup that saw Jacob Meyer and C.J. Gunn explode in scoring, recording 23 and 22 points respectively. The win was DePaul’s fourth against the Wichita State Shockers, with the all-time series being in DePaul’s favor at 4-3.
The Shockers will be looking to get payback for the loss, whereas the Blue Demons will look to get another win in their non-conference schedule.
There are also other matchups to look forward to as well, including games against Stonehill, Northwestern, Detroit Mercy, and two matchups in the Emerald Coast Classic tournament, which will see DePaul match with Georgia Tech in the first round.