The 2026‑27 men’s basketball season for Bethune‑Cookman opens with a splash, as the Wildcats join the Field of 68’s 24‑hour Opening Day Marathon, a showcase that blends mid‑major competition with national exposure.
A Night of Firsts
On November 2, 2026, the Wildcats will face Furman in the marathon’s finale at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time, marking the first official game of the new campaign.
The marathon revives a format that entertained fans from 2008 through 2017, originally organized by ESPN, and this year expands to eight contests spread across two facilities.
Six of those games take place at the Rock Hill venue, while the remaining two are staged at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, creating a dual‑site spectacle that stretches from midnight Eastern until the night‑cap at 8 p.m.
Viewers can tune in live on the Field of 68’s YouTube channel and its X feed, with additional support from partners such as Visit York County, Sanford Sports and the Sanford Pentagon, all of which help amplify the event’s reach.
The schedule features matchups like High Point versus Liberty, Grambling State against Northern Illinois, and UAB versus McNeese State before the Wildcats close the night, offering a full slate of mid‑major action.
Following the final buzzer, the Field of 68’s After Dark program will broadcast live from the Sanford Pentagon, extending the marathon’s energy and giving the Wildcats a final spotlight before the season truly begins.