College basketball fans won't have to wait until November to see some of the nation's biggest programs take the floor. Sunday's exhibition schedule features an impressive collection of matchups, including North Carolina against Indiana, Florida against Baylor and Creighton traveling to Iowa State.
There are plenty of other intriguing games on the schedule. Purdue welcomes Ball State to Mackey Arena, Rutgers faces St. John's at Madison Square Garden, and Syracuse travels to Siena for a matchup featuring an interesting coaching reunion. Kansas is also scheduled to host Pittsburg State in an evening exhibition.
Although these contests won't count toward regular-season records, they provide valuable opportunities for coaching staffs to evaluate their rosters, experiment with different lineups and prepare for the challenges ahead. Several games will also be available through television or streaming services, giving fans an early look at teams hoping to make an impact during the 2026-27 season.
College basketball exhibition schedule for Sunday, October 18
Here is Sunday's men's college basketball exhibition schedule. All times are Eastern, and broadcast information is included where available.
North Carolina and Indiana headline Sunday's exhibition schedule
One of Sunday's most anticipated matchups features North Carolina and Indiana meeting at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, with the game available on B1G+.
The exhibition provides an especially interesting opportunity to evaluate North Carolina under new head coach Michael Malone. The former Denver Nuggets coach brings extensive NBA experience to Chapel Hill, including an NBA championship in 2023. His transition to college basketball is one of the most fascinating coaching storylines entering the 2026-27 season.
Indiana, meanwhile, enters its second season under Darian DeVries. The Hoosiers already have an exhibition victory under their belts after defeating Butler 96-68 on October 11. Indiana used an impressive 33-4 second-half run to pull away from the Bulldogs, providing an encouraging early performance.
The programs have met 16 times previously, with Indiana holding a 10-6 advantage. Their most recent regular-season meeting came in November 2022, when the Hoosiers defeated North Carolina 77-65.
Sunday's matchup won't affect those historical records, but it should provide valuable information about both programs.
Florida and Baylor meet in Jacksonville
Florida and Baylor will meet Sunday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville as part of the Jacksonville Hoops Showdown. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
The exhibition features two programs accustomed to competing on the national stage. Florida enters another season under Todd Golden, while Baylor continues under longtime head coach Scott Drew.
Florida's official athletic schedule lists SEC+ as a streaming option, with local television coverage through WTEV in Jacksonville and WFTV in Orlando. Radio coverage will also be available through the Gators Sports Network.
For both coaching staffs, the exhibition represents an opportunity to evaluate how their teams perform against high-level competition. These types of preseason matchups can expose defensive weaknesses, identify productive lineup combinations and help establish roles before the regular season begins.
The game also provides an appealing alternative for fans who want to watch major-conference basketball before November.
St. John's and Rutgers meet at Madison Square Garden
St. John's returns to Madison Square Garden on Sunday for an exhibition against Rutgers. The game begins at noon ET and will be available through B1G+.
The Red Storm enter their fourth season under Rick Pitino following consecutive Big East regular-season and tournament championships. Expectations remain high for a program that has reestablished itself among the conference's leading contenders.
St. John's opened exhibition play with an 81-52 victory over Drexel on October 14. Babacar Sane led the Red Storm with 17 points and eight rebounds, providing an encouraging early performance.
Rutgers arrives after a narrow 77-75 exhibition loss to Villanova. The Scarlet Knights will have another opportunity to evaluate their roster against a Big East opponent before the regular season begins.
Playing at Madison Square Garden adds another interesting element to the matchup. St. John's has a longstanding relationship with the arena, and Sunday's contest provides fans with an early opportunity to see the Red Storm in one of college basketball's most recognizable venues.
Purdue opens exhibition play against Ball State
Purdue begins its exhibition schedule Sunday when Ball State visits Mackey Arena. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will be streamed through B1G+.
Matt Painter's program has established itself as one of the Big Ten's most consistent contenders. Purdue enters the new season looking to maintain that success while preparing for another demanding conference schedule.
Ball State provides a useful opening opponent because the Cardinals compete at the Division I level and will challenge Purdue in a competitive setting.
The exhibition also gives Painter an opportunity to evaluate his rotation, determine which combinations work best and assess the team's defensive communication.
Purdue's official athletic department has confirmed that radio coverage will be available through the Purdue Global Radio Network.
Syracuse and Siena feature a fascinating coaching reunion
One of Sunday's most interesting storylines takes place in Albany, where Siena hosts Syracuse at MVP Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
The matchup features the return of Gerry McNamara, who guided Siena to the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship before leaving to become Syracuse's head coach.
McNamara's return to his former program creates an unusual exhibition atmosphere. He helped restore Siena's postseason success before accepting the opportunity to lead his alma mater.
Siena enters the season under new head coach Nevada Smith, whose background includes coaching in the NBA development system and working alongside Shaka Smart at Marquette.
The Saints are also scheduled to recognize their championship team during a pregame ceremony.
Although the result won't count toward either program's regular-season record, the matchup carries considerable emotional significance because of the coaching connections.
Creighton visits Iowa State in another intriguing matchup
Iowa State welcomes Creighton to Hilton Coliseum on Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET exhibition. The game will be available through ESPN+.
The matchup brings together programs from the Big 12 and Big East, providing an appealing opportunity for both teams to compete against unfamiliar opposition.
Iowa State has developed a reputation for its demanding defensive approach and the challenging environment inside Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones will have an opportunity to evaluate their progress against a Creighton program accustomed to competing in one of the nation's strongest basketball conferences.
For Creighton, the exhibition offers valuable experience against a major-conference opponent before regular-season competition begins.
Both coaching staffs can use the matchup to experiment with rotations and identify areas that require improvement.
Which college basketball games should fans watch Sunday?
Sunday's exhibition schedule provides plenty of viewing options throughout the day.
Rutgers and St. John's begin at noon ET, followed by Creighton and Iowa State at 1 p.m. Purdue-Ball State, Florida-Baylor and Syracuse-Siena all tip off at 2 p.m., giving fans several interesting afternoon choices.
North Carolina and Indiana headline the evening at 5 p.m., with the matchup available through B1G+. Indiana State and Butler follow at 6:30 p.m., while Kansas is scheduled to host Pittsburg State at 8 p.m.
With the regular season coming soon, these exhibitions offer an early opportunity to evaluate programs preparing for another exciting college basketball season. The results won't count in the standings, but the performances could provide important clues about which teams are ready to rock when the season begins in November.
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