Bulldogs and Lady Techsters Set for Initial 2026-27 MAC-SBC Hoops Challenge
7/2/2026 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Sun Belt Conference (SBC) have finalized the opening matchups for the 2026-27 edition of the MAC-SBC Challenge scheduled for Nov. 2, which will see Louisiana Tech men's basketball host Kent State, while the Lady Techsters will travel to Toledo, as announced by the leagues on Thursday afternoon.
NEW ORLEANS - The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Sun Belt Conference (SBC) have finalized the opening matchups for the 2026-27 edition of the MAC-SBC Challenge scheduled for Nov. 2, which will see Louisiana Tech men's basketball host Kent State, while the Lady Techsters will travel to Toledo, as announced by the leagues on Thursday afternoon.
The MAC-SBC Challenge is a scheduling alliance in men's and women's basketball that will kick off during the opening week of the 2026-27 season, with 12 SBC men's basketball programs hosting 12 MAC teams and 12 Sun Belt women's basketball teams visiting 14 Mid-American Conference programs.
This marks Louisiana Tech's inaugural appearance in the challenge as the newest member of the Sun Belt Conference. This is the fourth year of the MAC-SBC Challenge, which was recently extended to continue through the 2028-29 season.
The Lady Techsters' contest against the Rockets will be the inaugural matchup between the two programs on the hardwood. Both teams made their respective conference tournament championships, both falling just short. The six-seeded Rockets upset the three- and two-seeded teams in the championship en route to a second-place finish in the MAC Tournament, while the regular season champion and top-ranked Lady Techsters cruised to the championship before falling to Missouri State.
The Bulldogs will host the Golden Flashes of Kent State in the Thomas Assembly Center to open the 2026-27 season. Kent State fell to Akron in the MAC Semifinals after going 14-4 in conference play, finishing the season with 24 wins. The Bulldogs closed the season falling short in the Conference USA Championship against Kennesaw State, winning 20 games during the 2025-26 season.
It marks the third matchup between the Bulldogs and Golden Flashes, the first time since 1983. LA Tech leads the series 2-0 with 75-66 and 60-55 victories in 1981 and 1983.
The second MAC-SBC Challenge contest for each team will be announced in January before tipping off in early February. The Sun Belt men and MAC women will host the February matchups, as each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge is guaranteed one home and one away game each season.
Tip times, broadcast announcements, and ticket information will all be released at a later date.
About The MAC-SBC Challenge
The MAC-SBC Challenge began during the 2023-24 season at the recommendation of the Sun Belt's strategic planning committees for men's and women's basketball. Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests are considered in determining the matchups.
The Sun Belt went 4-9 during the first round of the challenge last season, but rebounded with a 10-3 record in the second round, winning the challenge for the second straight season with a 14-12 record.
The Sun Belt and MAC men played to a series split in 2024-25 with the SBC claiming an 8-4 record in November home games, before the MAC accomplished the same feat on its home courts in February. The MAC women secured their first Challenge win over the SBC last season.
The Sun Belt captured the inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge titles on the men's and women's fronts, respectively, in 2023-24.
Each MAC-SBC Challenge game will be carried on an ESPN platform.
MAC-SBC Challenge Men's Basketball Matchups
Toledo at Arkansas State
Eastern Michigan at Coastal Carolina
Ball State at Georgia Southern
Bowling Green at Georgia State
Miami (Ohio) at James Madison
Akron at Louisiana
Central Michigan at ULM
Kent State at Louisiana Tech
Buffalo at Marshall
Western Michigan at Old Dominion
Ohio at South Alabama
UMass at Troy
MAC-SBC Challenge Women's Basketball Matchups
App State at Eastern Michigan
Arkansas State at Ball State
Coastal Carolina at Western Michigan
Georgia Southern at Bowling Green
Georgia State at Buffalo
James Madison at Miami (Ohio)
Louisiana Tech at Toledo
ULM at Ohio
Marshall at UMass
Old Dominion at Central Michigan
South Alabama at Akron
Troy at Kent State
SUPPORT LOUISIANA TECH ATHLETICS
Support Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes by joining the Louisiana Tech Athletic Club (LTAC), the official fundraising organization for Louisiana Tech Athletics. Every gift directly impacts the championship experience for more than 350 student-athletes.
BARK LOUDER
Join us inside the Thomas Assembly Center this season as the Bulldogs begin a new era in the Sun Belt Conference. Admission to all home matches is free, so come out, support the Bulldogs, and Bark Louder all season long.
FOLLOW THE DOGS
For complete schedule information, match updates, and the latest news surrounding Louisiana Tech Volleyball, visit LATechSports.com or follow @LATechHoops on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
FOLLOW THE TECHSTERS
For complete schedule information, match updates, and the latest news surrounding Louisiana Tech Volleyball, visit LATechSports.com or follow @LATechWBBs on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
The MAC-SBC Challenge is a scheduling alliance in men's and women's basketball that will kick off during the opening week of the 2026-27 season, with 12 SBC men's basketball programs hosting 12 MAC teams and 12 Sun Belt women's basketball teams visiting 14 Mid-American Conference programs.
This marks Louisiana Tech's inaugural appearance in the challenge as the newest member of the Sun Belt Conference. This is the fourth year of the MAC-SBC Challenge, which was recently extended to continue through the 2028-29 season.
The Lady Techsters' contest against the Rockets will be the inaugural matchup between the two programs on the hardwood. Both teams made their respective conference tournament championships, both falling just short. The six-seeded Rockets upset the three- and two-seeded teams in the championship en route to a second-place finish in the MAC Tournament, while the regular season champion and top-ranked Lady Techsters cruised to the championship before falling to Missouri State.
The Bulldogs will host the Golden Flashes of Kent State in the Thomas Assembly Center to open the 2026-27 season. Kent State fell to Akron in the MAC Semifinals after going 14-4 in conference play, finishing the season with 24 wins. The Bulldogs closed the season falling short in the Conference USA Championship against Kennesaw State, winning 20 games during the 2025-26 season.
It marks the third matchup between the Bulldogs and Golden Flashes, the first time since 1983. LA Tech leads the series 2-0 with 75-66 and 60-55 victories in 1981 and 1983.
The second MAC-SBC Challenge contest for each team will be announced in January before tipping off in early February. The Sun Belt men and MAC women will host the February matchups, as each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge is guaranteed one home and one away game each season.
Tip times, broadcast announcements, and ticket information will all be released at a later date.
About The MAC-SBC Challenge
The MAC-SBC Challenge began during the 2023-24 season at the recommendation of the Sun Belt's strategic planning committees for men's and women's basketball. Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests are considered in determining the matchups.
The Sun Belt went 4-9 during the first round of the challenge last season, but rebounded with a 10-3 record in the second round, winning the challenge for the second straight season with a 14-12 record.
The Sun Belt and MAC men played to a series split in 2024-25 with the SBC claiming an 8-4 record in November home games, before the MAC accomplished the same feat on its home courts in February. The MAC women secured their first Challenge win over the SBC last season.
The Sun Belt captured the inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge titles on the men's and women's fronts, respectively, in 2023-24.
Each MAC-SBC Challenge game will be carried on an ESPN platform.
MAC-SBC Challenge Men's Basketball Matchups
Toledo at Arkansas State
Eastern Michigan at Coastal Carolina
Ball State at Georgia Southern
Bowling Green at Georgia State
Miami (Ohio) at James Madison
Akron at Louisiana
Central Michigan at ULM
Kent State at Louisiana Tech
Buffalo at Marshall
Western Michigan at Old Dominion
Ohio at South Alabama
UMass at Troy
MAC-SBC Challenge Women's Basketball Matchups
App State at Eastern Michigan
Arkansas State at Ball State
Coastal Carolina at Western Michigan
Georgia Southern at Bowling Green
Georgia State at Buffalo
James Madison at Miami (Ohio)
Louisiana Tech at Toledo
ULM at Ohio
Marshall at UMass
Old Dominion at Central Michigan
South Alabama at Akron
Troy at Kent State
SUPPORT LOUISIANA TECH ATHLETICS
Support Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes by joining the Louisiana Tech Athletic Club (LTAC), the official fundraising organization for Louisiana Tech Athletics. Every gift directly impacts the championship experience for more than 350 student-athletes.
BARK LOUDER
Join us inside the Thomas Assembly Center this season as the Bulldogs begin a new era in the Sun Belt Conference. Admission to all home matches is free, so come out, support the Bulldogs, and Bark Louder all season long.
FOLLOW THE DOGS
For complete schedule information, match updates, and the latest news surrounding Louisiana Tech Volleyball, visit LATechSports.com or follow @LATechHoops on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
FOLLOW THE TECHSTERS
For complete schedule information, match updates, and the latest news surrounding Louisiana Tech Volleyball, visit LATechSports.com or follow @LATechWBBs on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
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