Year two of the Luke Loucks era is here, and for the second season in a row, the FSU men’s basketball program has scheduled a challenging, exciting non-conference schedule.
On Wednesday, Florida State hoops announced its non-conference slate for the 2026-27 season, once again highlighted by difficult matchups against perennial college basketball powers.
The Seminoles will face Florida, presumably a top-3 team in the country, at home for the first time under Loucks in their third game of the season.
FSU will also face Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Houston away from home, three teams that made the NCAA tournament a season ago, including the Cougars and Volunteers advancing to the Sweet 16.
Nole fans will also be able to see Florida State in action across the Southeast as Loucks scheduled his team to play in Jacksonville, Tampa, and Houston, Texas, this fall.
“We’re really excited about this non-conference schedule and the opportunity it provides our team,” said Loucks. “Our goal was to put together a schedule that challenges us early and prepares us for the level of competition we’ll face in ACC play. The best way to get better is to compete against high-level opponents, and these games will test us, expose areas where we need to improve, and help us grow as a team. We’re looking forward to the challenge and believe this schedule will put us in the best position possible when conference play begins.”
“Our team and staff are also looking forward to the opportunity to take our program to different markets throughout the state of Florida this season. Florida State basketball is bigger than just Tallahassee, our brand reaches across the entire country, and we want to continue building those connections with Seminole fans everywhere. Playing neutral-site games in places like Tampa and Jacksonville gives us a chance to compete in new environments while engaging with our incredible fan base. We’re looking forward to bringing Florida State basketball to our fans around the state and creating more opportunities for them to be a part of our program.”
There are also some buy games mixed in with a four-game home stretch in November against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Ball State, Green Bay, and UNC Asheville. FSU also had a TBD slot left open on November 29th, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
The full non-conference schedule can be found below, with the Seminoles’ finalized ACC slate to be released at a later date.
- Oct. 10: vs. Mississippi State, Pensacola, Fla. (Exhibition)
- Oct. 14: vs. Auburn, Birmingham, Ala. (Exhibition, Ballin in Boutwell)
- Oct. 24: vs. LSU, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Nov. 2: vs. Florida A&M, Tampa, Fla. (Orion180 Tip-Off Classic)
- Nov. 6: vs. Troy, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Nov. 10: vs. Florida, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Nov. 13: vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Nov. 17: vs. Ball State, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Nov. 20: vs. Green Bay, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Nov. 24: vs. UNC Asheville, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Nov. 29: TBD, TBD (neutral)
- Dec. 1: at Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn. (ACC/SEC Challenge)
- Dec. 5: vs. Dayton, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Dec. 12: vs. Texas A&M, Houston, Texas (neutral)
- Dec. 16: vs. Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Fla.
- Dec. 20: vs. Houston, Jacksonville, Fla. (Jacksonville Hoops Showdown)
- Dec. 22: vs. Bethune-Cookman, Tallahassee, Fla.
