The Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team has released its full non-conference schedule for the remainder of 2026, with Big 12 games taking over in 2027.

The slate is highlighted by the unique opener vs. Ohio State at the Lindner Tennis Center in Mason Oct. 7 which will be part of doubleheader with Xavier and Dayton. That will be an exhibition and the Bearcats will also face national semifinalist Illinois Oct. 17 at Fifth Third Arena in another exhibition.

The Illini are No. 5 on the early 2026 KenPom rankings and finished No. 5 in last year's AP poll. Like UC's Jarred Calhoun, Illinois coach Brad Underwood was a former Bob Huggins assistant (at Kansas State).

The season opener is Nov. 2 against American University at Fifth Third Arena and a week later on Nov. 9, UC will host Minnesota of the Big Ten, the team that christened the arena in 1989 when UC won on a last-second 3-pointer from Steve Sanders.

On Nov. 14, UC travels to UD Arena for the Dayton Flyers, the same date the football Bearcats are at Iowa State.

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, UC is in Orlando at the ESPN Events Invitational against the Georgia Bulldogs, a team the Bearcats lost to last year in Atlanta. The 2026 version Bearcats then play Boston College on Nov. 27. The Golden Eagles are coached by Luke Murray, formerly a Chris Mack assistant at Xavier and Louisville. UC post player Jayden Hastings played for Boston College last season.

For the adventurous traveler, UC football is at BYU on Nov. 28.

The previously announced Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout is Saturday, Dec. 5 at Fifth Third Arena against the Xavier Musketeers.

UC will also play Clemson again at a neutral site. The Bearcats made a fierce comeback last year in Greenville, South Carolina but fell short. This year the game is Dec. 18 in Cincinnati, but at Heritage Bank Center.

Cincinnati Bearcats 2026 non-conference schedule (times to be determined)
  • Wednesday, Oct. 7 (exhibition) UC vs. Ohio State (part of CareSource doubleheader at Lindner Tennis Center in Mason)
  • Saturday, Oct. 17 (exhibition) UC vs. Illinois at Fifth Third Arena
  • Tuesday, Oct. 27 (exhibition) UC vs. Oakland at Fifth Third Arena
  • Monday, Nov. 2 (opener) UC vs. American at Fifth Third Arena
  • Thursday, Nov. 5 UC vs. Green Bay at Fifth Third Arena
  • Monday, Nov. 9 UC vs. Minnesota at Fifth Third Arena
  • Saturday, Nov. 14 UC at Dayton
  • Wednesday, Nov. 18 UC vs. Youngstown State at Fifth Third Arena
  • Sunday, Nov. 22 UC vs. UMass-Lowell at Fifth Third Arena
  • Thursday, Nov. 26 UC vs. Georgia at ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando
  • Friday, Nov. 27 UC vs. Boston College at ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando
  • Wednesday, Dec. 2 UC vs. Monmouth at Fifth Third Arena
  • Saturday, Dec. 5 UC vs. Xavier in Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout at Fifth Third Arena
  • Monday, Dec. 14 UC vs. Stetson at Fifth Third Arena
  • Friday, Dec. 18 UC vs. Clemson at Heritage Bank Center in CareSource Invitational
  • Tuesday, Dec. 22 UC vs. Marist at Fifth Third Arena
  • Tuesday, Dec. 29 UC vs. Bethune-Cookman at Fifth Third Arena

Cincinnati Bearcats women's basketball heading to Cancun

The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team will compete in the 2026 Cancun Challenge, Triple Crown Sports recently announced. The tournament will be held Nov. 26-27 at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Mexico.

Cincinnati is one of six teams in the Riviera Tournament, joining Kansas, Miami (Ohio), Minnesota, Missouri State and Washington State. Each team will play two games during the tournament. The Bearcats will face Miami (Ohio) on Thursday, Nov. 26 at 9 p.m. ET before taking on Minnesota on Friday, Nov. 27 at 9 p.m. ET.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats non-conference schedule features Big Ten, ACC teams