College basketball fans have another opportunity to get an early look at the 2026-27 season Monday, October 26, with nine exhibition matchups scheduled across the country.
The day's schedule includes a meeting between longtime rivals Kansas State and Nebraska, a Big Ten program visiting Philadelphia and several mid-major teams continuing their final preparations before the regular season.
Although exhibition results don't count toward official win-loss records, these games can provide valuable information about roster construction, player development and potential breakout contributors.
Monday's schedule is particularly interesting because several programs are approaching their final preseason opportunities before the regular season begins November 2.
Monday, October 26 college basketball exhibition schedule
All times Eastern.
- 6:00 p.m. ET: USC Upstate at Western Carolina
- 7:00 p.m. ET: Calumet College at Loyola Chicago
- 7:00 p.m. ET: Indiana East at Miami (Ohio)
- 7:00 p.m. ET: Johnson C. Smith at Queens
- 7:00 p.m. ET: Penn State at Drexel
- 7:00 p.m. ET: Samford at Jacksonville State
- 7:30 p.m. ET: Kansas State vs. Nebraska
- 8:00 p.m. ET: Northwestern State at North Texas
- 10:00 p.m. ET: San Francisco State at San Francisco
The schedule includes Division I programs facing other Division I opponents, along with several games involving schools from outside Division I.
Kansas State and Nebraska provide the day's highest-profile matchup, but the Penn State-Drexel contest also deserves attention.
Both games offer valuable opportunities for teams to evaluate their rotations against legitimate Division I competition.
Kansas State and Nebraska bring their rivalry to Grand Island
The headline matchup takes place at the BigIron Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska, where Kansas State and Nebraska meet in an exhibition scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m. ET.
The game represents another chapter in a rivalry that developed during the programs' years together in the Big Eight and Big 12.
Nebraska enters the matchup looking to finish exhibition play on a positive note after suffering a 72-61 defeat against BYU earlier this month.
Kansas State also experienced a competitive exhibition loss, falling 71-67 against Missouri on October 23.
The meeting provides both programs an opportunity to address areas requiring improvement before regular-season competition begins.
Fans can watch the game on Nebraska Public Media, with streaming available through B1G+.
Radio coverage is available through the Huskers Radio Network, including KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln, WOW 590 AM in Omaha and KRVN 880 AM in Lexington.
The game will also be available through Nebraska's official athletics website and mobile app for listeners.
Penn State visits Drexel in an intriguing Philadelphia matchup
Penn State travels to the Daskalakis Athletic Center for a 7 p.m. ET exhibition against Drexel.
The Nittany Lions enter the contest following a 68-65 exhibition victory against St. Bonaventure, a game in which they overcame an 11-point halftime deficit.
Penn State's second-half response was particularly impressive, demonstrating an ability to recover from a difficult offensive start.
Drexel provides another opportunity for Mike Rhoades and his staff to evaluate their roster before the regular season.
The Dragons are coming off six consecutive winning seasons under head coach Zach Spiker, giving the program an established foundation entering the new campaign.
Drexel has also faced St. John's and Lafayette during exhibition play, making Monday's matchup another opportunity to measure its progress against higher-level competition.
The game is scheduled to stream on FloCollege, according to Drexel's official athletics schedule.
Samford and Jacksonville State continue their preparations
Samford visits Jacksonville State for a 7 p.m. ET exhibition at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
The Bulldogs previously defeated Alabama A&M 71-61 in an exhibition on October 13, receiving a balanced offensive effort.
Jacksonville State also enters Monday's game following an exhibition victory, having defeated Alabama State 59-37 earlier this month.
The matchup provides both teams with another opportunity to evaluate their offensive execution and defensive organization before the regular season.
Samford has another exhibition scheduled against Auburn on October 29, while Jacksonville State begins regular-season competition November 2 against LaGrange.
No confirmed television or streaming outlet was listed on the official schedules reviewed for Monday's matchup.
Loyola Chicago and Miami (Ohio) host special exhibition nights
Loyola Chicago welcomes Calumet College to Gentile Arena for a 7 p.m. ET exhibition.
The Ramblers previously suffered a 72-65 defeat against DePaul, but Guillaume Grotzinger delivered an encouraging performance with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Monday's matchup provides another opportunity for Loyola's newcomers to develop chemistry before the regular season begins.
Miami (Ohio) also hosts a non-Division I opponent, welcoming Indiana East to Millett Hall at 7 p.m. ET.
The evening will feature banner ceremonies recognizing the Miami men's and women's basketball programs for their accomplishments during the 2025-26 season.
Miami's men completed an undefeated 31-0 regular season before finishing 32-2 overall, making the celebration a particularly meaningful occasion for the program.
Both Miami teams captured MAC regular-season championships and advanced to their respective NCAA Tournaments.
Four additional matchups complete Monday's schedule
Western Carolina hosts USC Upstate at 6 p.m. ET in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
The Catamounts are working with a significantly changed roster that includes several transfers and freshmen. Their official athletics department has confirmed that the exhibition will not have live video or live statistics.
Queens welcomes Johnson C. Smith to Curry Arena in Charlotte at 7 p.m. ET.
The Royals are preparing for another season of Division I competition and will use the matchup to evaluate their roster before opening the regular season against Winthrop.
North Texas hosts Northwestern State at the Super Pit in Denton, Texas, with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
The Mean Green previously suffered a narrow 67-64 exhibition defeat against Colorado, making Monday's matchup another opportunity to evaluate their progress.
The final scheduled contest takes place on the West Coast, where San Francisco welcomes San Francisco State to War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
That game begins at 10 p.m. ET, providing college basketball fans with a late-night exhibition option.
Broadcast or streaming information for these remaining matchups was not confirmed on the official schedules reviewed.
College basketball's regular season is almost here
Monday's nine-game schedule continues a busy stretch of exhibition basketball as programs finalize their preparations for the 2026-27 campaign.
The Kansas State-Nebraska matchup provides the most recognizable rivalry, while Penn State-Drexel offers another interesting meeting between Division I programs.
Elsewhere, several teams are using their remaining exhibition opportunities to develop chemistry and identify which players are ready for larger roles.
The regular season begins November 2 for many programs, meaning the final week of October represents an important transition.
Soon, the results will count.
For now, Monday offers another opportunity to learn which teams might be ready to surprise college basketball fans when the new season officially arrives.
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