NCAA Basketball Recap

December 26, 2025 • Sports

Hosted by Big Dill

About This Episode

Generated sports podcast with host Big Dill based on prompt: I want the scores from yesterday’s mens NCAA college basketball games. Give me scores, highlights, and top performers.

Transcript

Welcome to Big Dill Sports—where we slice and dice all things sports, bringing you the juicy details with your host, Dillon. Today, we’re diving into an interesting twist in the world of NCAA basketball. For the first time in a while, no Division I men’s college basketball games were played on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. Let’s unwrap what’s behind this holiday pause and what it means for the season.

Traditionally, Christmas Day used to have its own little slice of college basketball excitement, most notably with the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu. In 2024, we saw Nebraska battling it out against Oregon State in the championship game. It was a tradition that brought some gritty holiday action to basketball fans. But this year, that tradition took a pause. ESPN announced back in February that the Diamond Head Classic would now take place during Thanksgiving week, leaving this Christmas break completely basketball-free at the college level.

Now, why the break, you ask? Well, this pause allows players and staff a much-needed opportunity to recharge, spend time with families, and enjoy the holiday. Most conferences had their final games around December 23, with play resuming post-holidays. The Big East, for instance, wrapped up pre-holiday games on December 23 and scheduled their next matchups for December 30. It’s a universal practice across Division I, reinforcing the holiday break as a hard stop.

No college hoops on Christmas doesn’t mean basketball fans were left hanging. The NBA took center stage, filling up the holiday sports calendar. Five marquee NBA matchups graced the Christmas lineup, featuring thrilling games like the Golden State Warriors versus the Dallas Mavericks. Steph Curry and Draymond Green faced off against their former teammate Klay Thompson in what turned out to be a prime-time showdown.

As for the NCAA, the action resumes on December 26 or 27, depending on conference and tournament schedules. We’ve got games featuring Columbia College facing off against UNC Wilmington, and Cleary University taking on Duquesne. After the holiday fete, these games mark a festive return to action.

And before we wrap up, let's talk about a player who’s making waves—a big dill in the world of NCAA basketball. Although he didn’t play on Christmas, keep an eye on Caleb Williams from UNC. His leadership and on-court performance have been nothing short of stellar this season. As we dive back into the games, he’s someone you’ll want to watch as he continues to dominate the court.

There you have it—our breakdown of the NCAA basketball landscape over the holidays. It’s a time out that might be unusual but necessary for players to catch their breath before diving back into the exciting second half of the season.

Thanks for tuning into Big Dill Sports. I'm Dillon, and I’ll be back soon with more fresh takes on all things sports. Until next time, enjoy the games and stay dill-ightful!

No Division I Men’s College Basketball on Christmas Day
There were no NCAA Division I men’s college basketball games played on Thursday, December 25, 2025. The national regular-season schedule observes a holiday pause, with programs and athletes taking Christmas Day off before resuming play in the days that follow. According to ESPN’s official men’s college basketball schedule, the next listed games after December 23 appear on December 27, 2025, with no matchups scheduled for December 24–26, indicating a full break over Christmas and the immediate aftermath ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/schedule)). Additionally, the Diamond Head Classic—long one of the few mid-season holiday events traditionally held on Christmas Day—was formally cancelled for 2025, removing what had been one of the rare exceptions to the holiday layoff ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Head_Classic?utm_source=openai)).

Historical Context: The Holiday Tournaments
For many years, college basketball’s “Christmas Day tradition” centered on the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, where teams played consolation and championship games on December 25. In the 2024 edition, for example, Nebraska defeated Oregon State 78-66 in the title game on Christmas Day at the Stan Sheriff Center ([thetelegraph.com](https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/diamond-head-classic-2024-bracket-schedule-results-19994875.php?utm_source=openai)). ESPN Events’ press release for the 2024–25 season also outlined a full slate of placement games on December 25—seventh-place, fifth-place, third-place, and championship games—across various in-season multi-team events ([espnpressroom.com](https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/08/espn-events-announces-2024-25-college-basketball-tournament-and-event-schedule/amp/?utm_source=openai)). However, in February 2025, ESPN announced that the Diamond Head Classic would be shifted from Christmas to Thanksgiving week starting with the 2025 edition, effectively ending Christmas Day college basketball on the islands ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Head_Classic?utm_source=openai)).

Regular-Season Break and Conference Schedules
Beyond the Diamond Head Classic, the standard NCAA Division I schedule suspends all non-conference and conference games on December 25 to allow teams a mid-season respite. Major conferences finalize non-conference slates by mid-December and pick up again immediately after New Year’s Eve or on December 26–27. For instance, the Big East had its final pre-holiday games on December 23 (Villanova at Seton Hall) and scheduled its next contests beginning December 30, with no games mid-holiday week ([bigeast.com](https://www.bigeast.com/news/2025/9/11/big-east-announces-2025-26-mens-basketball-schedule.aspx?utm_source=openai)). This pattern is mirrored across all Division I conferences, reinforcing the universal nature of the Christmas break.

Upcoming Return to Action
Men’s Division I teams will return to the court starting Friday, December 26 or Saturday, December 27, depending on conference and tournament commitments. ESPN’s schedule lists matchups on December 27, including Columbia College (SC) at UNC Wilmington and Cleary University at Duquesne, marking the official resumption of play after the holiday hiatus ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/schedule)). Fans and media can expect a flurry of games leading up to New Year’s Eve, with non-conference tournaments concluding and conference play ramping up.

Holiday Spotlight on the NBA
With the college game in recess, basketball fans turned their attention to the NBA’s Christmas Day showcase. The 2025 Christmas slate featured five marquee NBA matchups, including the Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center, tipping off at 2 p.m. PT on ABC and ESPN. The Warriors, led by Steph Curry and Draymond Green, faced the Mavericks and former Warrior Klay Thompson in a primetime holiday showdown ([goldenstateofmind.com](https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/warriors-game-previews/106543/how-to-watch-warriors-vs-mavericks?utm_source=openai)). This NBA focus has become a fixture of December 25, filling the sports calendar in the absence of collegiate competition.

Conclusion
December 25, 2025, marked a complete pause in NCAA Division I men’s basketball, a break underscored by the cancellation of the Diamond Head Classic and the uniform holiday scheduling practices of all major conferences. The layoff allows student-athletes and staffs to observe Christmas and recharge before the season’s second half. Play resumes in the post-holiday period, with schedules picking up December 26–27 and conference battles intensifying as teams jockey for position entering the new year.

NCAA Basketball Recap