College basketball fans have an entertaining Saturday ahead, with several nationally prominent programs continuing their preparations for the 2026-27 season. Gonzaga travels to Arkansas for a matchup between two preseason top-15 teams, while LSU visits Florida State in another intriguing meeting between major-conference opponents. BYU also heads to Las Vegas for an exhibition against former Mountain West rival UNLV.
These contests provide opportunities for coaching staffs to evaluate their rotations and identify areas requiring improvement before the regular season begins. Exhibition results won't count toward official records, but games against quality opponents can provide valuable information about team chemistry and execution. Saturday also features smaller programs preparing for their own conference schedules, with several schools hosting exhibitions against regional opponents.
Saturday, October 24 college basketball exhibition schedule
All times are Eastern.
Additional Saturday exhibitions include Arkansas State at SIUE and a men's game in Tarleton State's home exhibition doubleheader. Their exact tipoff and broadcast details should be checked against the respective schools' official game pages.
Gonzaga at Arkansas offers a rare October top-15 matchup
Saturday's biggest exhibition takes place at Bud Walton Arena, where Arkansas welcomes Gonzaga at 4 p.m. ET. The Razorbacks enter the contest ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press preseason poll, while Gonzaga holds the No. 15 position. SEC Network+ will stream the game, and the Learfield Razorback Sports Network will provide radio coverage.
Arkansas enters the season following consecutive Sweet 16 appearances under John Calipari. The Razorbacks have also assembled a highly regarded recruiting class, creating considerable optimism about their ability to compete for another deep NCAA Tournament run. Facing Gonzaga provides an immediate opportunity to evaluate that talent against a nationally prominent opponent.
The Bulldogs have developed a reputation for consistently challenging elite programs under Mark Few. Their visit to Fayetteville offers another opportunity to prepare for demanding regular-season competition while evaluating how their roster responds in a difficult environment. Although the exhibition won't affect either team's official record, the matchup should provide meaningful preparation for both programs.
LSU visits Florida State after the Seminoles' impressive comeback
Florida State hosts LSU at 1 p.m. ET inside the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee. The game will air on ACC Network Extra, with additional radio coverage through the Seminole Sports Network. The matchup represents Florida State's final exhibition before beginning the regular season.
The Seminoles enter the contest following an 82-71 exhibition victory over Auburn. Florida State trailed by eight points with approximately 15 minutes remaining before outscoring Auburn 44-25 over the remainder of the game. Freshman center Marcis Ponder produced an extraordinary performance with 13 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks.
LSU enters under Will Wade, who is beginning his second stint leading the Tigers. The program has already recorded narrow exhibition victories against McNeese State and UCF, providing valuable experience before Saturday's matchup. Florida State will attempt to build on its encouraging performance against Auburn, while LSU looks to continue developing its roster before SEC competition begins.
BYU renews an old rivalry against UNLV
BYU visits UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center for a 4 p.m. ET exhibition available through MW+. The matchup brings together former Mountain West opponents with a lengthy history of competitive games. UNLV leads the all-time series 19-17, although Saturday's exhibition won't count toward that official record.
The Cougars enter the contest ranked No. 25 nationally after defeating Nebraska 72-61 in an earlier exhibition. Collin Chandler scored 19 points, while Robert Wright III added 17 points and seven assists. BYU also received 15 points from freshman Bruce Branch III, providing encouraging signs for a team preparing for another demanding Big 12 season.
UNLV enters its second season under Josh Pastner with a significantly different roster. The Runnin' Rebels return only three letterwinners and have welcomed 11 newcomers, creating an important opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate team chemistry. Facing BYU provides a difficult challenge, but it should also help UNLV identify areas requiring improvement before the regular season begins.
NC State and Navy offer additional afternoon basketball
NC State hosts Lenoir-Rhyne at noon ET inside Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Admission and parking are free, giving local supporters an opportunity to watch the Wolfpack before the regular season begins. The game won't have a streaming or radio broadcast, but live statistics will be available.
Navy also begins its Saturday with a 10:30 a.m. ET exhibition against Coppin State at Alumni Hall in Annapolis. The Midshipmen are using the contest as part of their preseason preparation, with free admission available to fans. These games provide valuable opportunities for both coaching staffs to evaluate their players in competitive settings.
The matchups may not attract the national attention surrounding Arkansas or Florida State, but they remain important for programs attempting to establish consistency before conference competition begins. Exhibition basketball gives coaches opportunities to experiment without the pressure of an official result. It also provides younger players with valuable experience before the regular season.
Vermont and St. Bonaventure continue their preparations
Vermont hosts Stonehill at 2 p.m. ET inside Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington. The Catamounts are using the contest as the second of three preseason exhibitions, giving the coaching staff another opportunity to evaluate the roster. The matchup provides a useful test against a Division I opponent before regular-season competition begins.
St. Bonaventure welcomes Point Park for a 4 p.m. ET exhibition at the Reilly Center. The contest represents the Bonnies' final exhibition before the regular season, creating another opportunity for the program to evaluate its progress. Fans attending the game will see a St. Bonaventure team preparing for the demands of Atlantic 10 competition.
These matchups demonstrate the variety of approaches programs take during exhibition season. Some choose nationally ranked opponents capable of exposing weaknesses, while others emphasize opportunities to develop rotations and establish confidence. Both approaches can provide useful information as the regular season approaches.
Which exhibition should fans watch Saturday?
Gonzaga at Arkansas stands out as Saturday's most compelling nationally televised matchup because it features two highly ranked programs with legitimate postseason ambitions. LSU at Florida State offers another attractive option, particularly after the Seminoles' impressive performance against Auburn. BYU at UNLV also deserves attention because of the programs' shared history and the roster changes surrounding the Runnin' Rebels.
The smaller-program exhibitions provide additional opportunities for fans to follow their favorite teams before the season begins. NC State, Navy, Vermont and St. Bonaventure will each use Saturday's games to continue preparing for meaningful competition. Although the results won't appear in official standings, the performances can provide early indications of which teams are developing chemistry.
The 2026-27 regular season is approaching quickly, and Saturday offers another entertaining collection of preseason basketball. For fans eager to see nationally prominent teams face demanding competition, Gonzaga-Arkansas and LSU-Florida State provide two excellent reasons to tune in.
Tip timeMatchupViewing information10:30 a.m.Coppin State at NavyNo confirmed video broadcastNoonLenoir-Rhyne at NC StateNo stream or radio; live statistics1 p.m.LSU at Florida StateACC Network Extra; Seminole Sports Network2 p.m.Stonehill at VermontOfficial school broadcast information4 p.m.Gonzaga at ArkansasSEC Network+; Razorback Sports Network4 p.m.BYU at UNLVMW+4 p.m.Point Park at St. BonaventureOfficial school coverage information
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