Over a decade ago, ESPN hosted a 24-hour college basketball marathon to open the season. Thanks to the Field of 68, that’s now back, with an eight-game slate of games hosted by the media company to open the 2026-27 season.
Among the 16 teams playing, several are expected to win their respective conferences. Which of these games looks most intriguing on paper? Here’s a closer look at each matchup, ranking them in terms of intrigue.
ICYMI: @TheFieldof68 Opening Day Marathon is BACK and BIGGER than ever! 👀
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) August 11, 2026
Which matchup are YOU most looking forward to? 🤔⬇️ pic.twitter.com/d1YOXmejcw
*Records are from 2025-26 season
1. Murray State (20-13, 12-8 MVC) vs. Tennessee State (23-10, 15-5 OVC) - 11:30 am ET.
The Racers have what could be one of the best mid-major players in the nation in Roman Domon, a 6’9 forward who averaged 14.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg as a freshman. Auburn transfer guard Kaden Magwood and former GW guard Christian Jones (10 ppg) make up the new backcourt for the Racers.
Meanwhile, Tennessee State is loaded, landing former five-star prospect Aaron Bradshaw from Memphis and Bethune-Cookman transfer guard Arterio Morris (12.5 ppg and 2.9 apg). They also recently landed Josh Rivera from Seton Hall for even more frontcourt depth. Both teams are the preseason favorites in their respective leagues, and it should be a highly competitive matchup.
2. High Point (31-5, 15-1 Big South) vs Liberty (26-8, 17-3 CUSA)- Midnight ET.
High Point has turned into a premier mid-major program, being the lone double-digit seed who wasn’t a high-major to get an NCAA Tournament first-round upset. They bring back forward Cam’Ron Fletcher (13.2 ppg and 7.1 rpg) for his 7th year, along with multiple big-name transfer adds. Jason Rivera-Torres (15.8 ppg and 8.1 rpg at Monmouth), Filip Brankovic (13 ppg and 4.4 rpg at UTRGV), and Isaac Garrett ( 13.7 ppg and 7.1 rpg at Oakland) give them a loaded frontcourt to work with.
Liberty has also been one of the top mid-major programs for the past decade, winning 26+ games in back-to-back years. Despite losing all five double-digit scorers from last season, the Flames expect to be a contender in Conference USA again. Bothers Codi (9.0 ppg) and Cooper Campbell (12.5 ppg and 4.2 apg) come over from Troy, along with a trio of D-2 transfers including Matthew Shelton, Osmar Garcia-Araujo and Dillon Claussen. There are plenty of unknowns, but Coach Ritchie McKay has always found a way to make them good, making Liberty a legit test for the Panthers.
3. UAB (20-12, 11-7 American) vs McNeese State (28-6, 29-3 Southland) - 5:30 pm ET.
It’s a completely new roster for Coach Andy Kennedy and the Blazers, but he landed a ton of scoring production from the portal. Deuce Jones (15.8 ppg at St. Joe’s), Elijah Duval (15.3 ppg at Southern Utah), and Justyn Fernandez (16.6 ppg at Delaware) are three key pieces to watch, along with JUCO transfer forward Antallah Sandlin’El.
Despite losing Coach Will Wade to NC State, McNeese State didn’t miss a beat, dominating the Southland and making the Big Dance again. They’re another mid-major program that was able to keep their star, with leading scorer Larry Johnson (17.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg) returning for another year. They also added multiple high-major transfers, including Corey Chest (LSU), Alier Maluk (Florida State) and Deliquan Warren (Miss St). If any of them break out into a star at McNeese, they’ll be the team to beat in the Southland again.
4. Queens (21-14, 13-5 ASUN) vs Winthrop (23-11, 13-3 Big South) - 9 am ET.
The Royals bring back two double-digit scorers from last season in Jordan Watford (11.8 ppg and 3.9 apg) and Avantae Parker (11.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg). They’ll be the focal points of the offense this time around, joined by JUCO transfers Matt Sullivan and Joshua Osayanrhion.
Winthrop went toe-to-toe with High Point last season but did lose its top five leading scorers. The lone rotation piece back is Seifeldin Hendawy (5.7 ppg and 4.2 rpg), set to have a larger role in the offense. Among the key newcomers are Spence Sims (9.9 ppg at Gardner-Webb), Micah Davis (9.4 ppg and 2.9 apg at IU Indy), and forward George Natsvishvili (8.0 ppg and 4.9 rpg at North Dakota).
This is a rematch of last year’s 81-74 Winthrop win over Queens for the Field of 68 to open last season; look for the Royals to try and get revenge.
5. Appalachian State (19-13, 11-7 Sun Belt) vs Merrimack (23-11, 17-3 Metro) - 6 am ET.
The top five scorers for the Mountaineers are gone, leaving Eren Banks (6.6 ppg) returning as the likely starting ball-handler. Among the key newcomers for App State are Hermann Koffi (12.8 ppg at Stonehill) and two transfers from blue bloods, Rrezon Elezaj (UConn) and Corbin Allen (Kansas), who could be hidden gems for the program.
Last year’s Metro regular season champions lost Conference Player of the Year Kevair Kennedy to Wake Forest, but they did bring back Tye Dorset (11.7 ppg and 3.1 rpg) to be their lead guard, as well as another starter, Todd Brogna (6.1 ppg and 4.7 rpg). To fill the spots from the portal, include 10 ppg scoring guard Denver Anglin from Iona, along with James Madison veteran forward Eli Wilborn.
6. Furman (22-13, 10-8 SoCon) vs Bethune-Cookman (17-15, 14-4 SWAC)- 8 pm ET.
Furman has been a consistent SoCon contender for years, but will have to replace freshman star guard Alex Wilkins and the top six scorers overall. Among the intriguing newcomers for the Paladins are Luka Toews (6.3 ppg and 2.2 apg at BC), Jaxson Bell (12.2 ppg and 5.0 rpg at Army), Marcus Kell (13.6 ppg at Western Carolina), and Jordan Butler, a former top-100 prospect and transfer from South Carolina. Look for Kell, already familiar with the SoCon, to be a likely go-to option.
The Wildcats won the SWAC regular-season title last year but had to replace nearly everyone. They did get some quality players from the portal, led by Koron Davis (14.9 ppg at Alabama A&M), Vuk Boskovic (6.1 ppg at San Diego) and Jameel Morris (11.2 ppg and 2.9 apg at Alcorn State). It’s not as stacked as last year’s group, but it should be one that’s able to contend for another SWAC title.
7. UTEP (11-20, 7-13 CUSA) vs Northern Kentucky (20-14, 10-10 Horizon League) - 2 pm ET.
After a rough last year in Conference USA, the Miners move to the Mountain West with a completely new roster. Jace Whiting (11.2 ppg and 2.7 apg at Weber State), Leif Moller (10.8 ppg and 4.0 apg at Evansville) and former Ole Miss big man Augusto Cassia are players to watch for the rebuilt UTEP squad.
The Norse lost a ton of production from last season but do bring back starting guard Ethan Elliott (5.1 ppg and 4.6 apg). La Salle transfer guard Eric Acker (5.8 ppg), former top-100 prospect BJ Davis-Ray and East Texas A&M transfer forward Noah Pagotto (10.4 ppg and 5.7 rpg) are the key newcomers for NKU.
8. Grambling (14-19, 7-11 SWAC) vs Northern Illinois - 3 am ET.
After back-to-back years of under .500 play in the SWAC, Grambling has a completely rebuilt roster. Among the notable newcomers are Dwayne Pierce (8.5 ppg and 2.7 apg at NC A&T), former top-100 prospect Isaiah Miranda, and a pair of transfers (Josue Grullon and Kyle Layton), who each didn’t play last season. It’s a roster with potential but plenty of unknowns.
After finishing last in the MAC, Northern Illinois looks to start over with a new roster as a brand new member in the Horizon League. Among the 13 newcomers to the Huskies are Uzziah Buntyn (12.1 ppg and 3.5 apg at South Dakota), Tolu Samuels (7.1 ppg and 8.6 rpg at Southern Indiana) and former Horizon League Rookie of the Year David Douglas Jr., back in the conference after two years at Fresno State.
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