Conference USA unveils 2026‑27 men's basketball slate
Conference USA announced the full slate of games for the upcoming 2026‑27 men's basketball season on Thursday, confirming that Florida International University will contest an 18‑game conference schedule. The Panthers are slated to play nine home contests and nine away games, beginning with a Western road trip that opens on December 31, 2026, at New Mexico State.
The schedule was constructed to provide a balanced mix of opponents, featuring a blend of traditional rivals and new challengers. FIU will meet teams such as Liberty, Delaware, Missouri State, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Jax State, and Kennesaw State throughout the course of the season, each offering a distinct test for the Panthers' roster.
Key matchups and storylines
Among the most anticipated contests is the first conference game against New Mexico State on New Year's Eve, a venue that will test the Panthers' ability to start the season on the road. A few weeks later, FIU will host Liberty, Delaware and Missouri State in January, providing early opportunities to build momentum within the league.
Road trips will take the Panthers to Murfreesboro to face Middle Tennessee and to Bowling Green to meet Western Kentucky, while later in the month they travel to Lynchburg to play Virginia's Liberty University affiliate. The Panthers will also return to familiar territory when they host Jax State and Kennesaw State in late January, a series that includes a personal milestone for senior forward Ramone Seals, who will square off against his former team.
Seals' reunion with Kennesaw State adds a narrative layer to the schedule, as the forward looks to make an impact against a program he once represented. The team will also make its first-ever visit to Delaware on February 4, 2027, when they travel to Newark to confront the Fightin' Blue Hens, marking a historic step for the program.
The latter portion of the conference schedule features a stretch that includes a trip to Springfield, Missouri, where FIU will close out its longest road stretch on February 13, followed by home games against Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee in February. The Panthers will then embark on a final road swing that includes contests in Jacksonville, Alabama, and Kennesaw, Georgia, before capping the regular season with a home showdown against Sam Houston and a rematch with New Mexico State in March.
Coach Joey Cantens, who has been guiding the team through preseason preparations, expressed confidence in the roster's depth and versatility. "We have a balanced lineup that can adapt to different styles of play," Cantens said, emphasizing the importance of early road games in building resilience.
The full schedule not only outlines dates and opponents but also underscores the Panthers' commitment to competing at the highest level within Conference USA. With a mix of home‑court advantages and challenging away environments, the 2026‑27 season promises to be a pivotal year for FIU basketball as it seeks to climb the conference standings and secure a favorable seed for the upcoming tournament.