The 94th version of the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout will take place Saturday, Dec. 5 at Fifth Third Arena. A source close to the UC program confirmed the date posted by CBS college basketball insider Jon Rothstein on X Friday, May 29.
It will be the first Crosstown Shootout for new Cincinnati Bearcats coach Jerrod Calhoun in the top job, while Xavier Musketeers coach Richard Pitino is 1-0 after winning last year’s game at Cintas Center, 79-74.
Departed coach Wes Miller was just 1-4 in the Crosstown Shootout, winning the last game at Fifth Third Arena in 2024.
UC leads the all-time Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout series 52-41, but Xavier has won seven of the last 10 and 11 of the last 15. The Bearcats last won at home in 2024 but haven’t won at the Cintas Center since 2001, where the game returns in 2027.
Jerrod Calhoun was a student assistant under Bob Huggins in 2004 when the Bearcats lost to the Musketeers at the Cintas Center, 71-69.
Appearing on the “New Heights” podcast with noteworthy Cincinnati Bearcats Jason and Travis Kelce, Calhoun said the following about the UC/Xavier rivalry:
“Rivalries are everything,” Calhoun said. “This one is really special. I think it’s one of the most unique. You’ve got Duke/Carolina, you’ve got Cincinnati/Xavier. There’s two monster basketball programs within four, five miles. Those are games you’ve got to win. You’ve got to defend your turf. You’ve got to rep your city. We’re going to take a lot of pride in that.
How have 1st year coaches fared in Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout?
Pitino became the first Xavier coach to win their inaugural matchup since Chris Mack in 2009. The last UC coach to win in their first season at the helm was Mick Cronin in 2006. The Thanksgiving holiday weekend before the 2026 game, UC will be playing in ESPN’s Feast Week at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World, near Orlando.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout date for UC Bearcats, Xavier is set
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
