Northern Kentucky University's men's basketball program announced its full slate of non-conference games with the Norse set to host five games at Truist Arena.
Northern Kentucky opens the 2026-27 season in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, taking on UTEP as part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. The Norse will stay in the Mount Rushmore State for a matchup with South Dakota on Nov. 4. As previously announced, NKU then heads to College Station, taking on Texas A&M on Nov. 6. It marks the first time the Norse have played Texas A&M since the 2017-18 campaign. Northern Kentucky wraps up its four-game road trip to open the season at Chaifetz Arena, where they'll take on Saint Louis on Nov. 10.
Both Texas A&M and Saint Louis reached the second round
of the NCAA Tournament last season.
Then, the Norse start a four-game homestand leading into Thanksgiving, opening their home schedule on Nov. 14 against Central Michigan. Last season, NKU beat the Chippewas by 24 in Mount Pleasant. Northern Kentucky will then host Georgia Southern on Nov. 23 and Bellarmine on Nov. 25 as part of a a multi-team event with those teams playing each other at Truist Arena Nov. 24. Northern Kentucky's matchup with Georgia Southern will be the first in program history, while this season's matchup vs. Bellarmine marks the 80th all-time, with the Norse leading the series 45-34.
NKU has four out-of-conference games in December, taking on Defiance on Dec. 8, before facing South Carolina State on Dec. 11, both at Truist Arena. The Norse wrap up their non-Horizon League schedule by taking on ETSU in Johnson City on Dec. 15, before traveling up to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to take on Harvard on Dec. 20. It'll mark the first time that the Norse and Crimson have faced off, while the Norse traveled to ETSU last season.
The women’s team has also announced its nonconference slate. The Norse will have four road games at Power-Four schools Kentucky, Baylor, Indiana and Louisville, coached by Highlands graduate Jeff Walz. The home opener is Nov. 2 against Defiance and the Norse will host Kent State Nov. 7.
2026 NKU men’s basketball non-conference schedule
Nov. 2 – Neutral vs. UTEP (Sanford Pentagon, Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon)
Nov. 4 – Away at South Dakota
Nov. 6 – Away at Texas A&M
Nov. 10 – Away at Saint Louis
Nov. 14 – Home vs. Central Michigan
Nov. 23 – Home vs. Georgia Southern
Nov. 25 – Home vs. Bellarmine
Dec. 8 – Home vs. Defiance
Dec. 11 – Home vs. South Carolina State
Dec. 15 – Away at ETSU
Dec. 20 – Away at Harvard
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Tough road trip starts 2026-2027 season for NKU men's basketball
