A ambitious non‑conference roadmap
Oklahoma State has unveiled its 2026‑27 men’s basketball non‑conference slate, a 14‑game lineup that blends home‑court showcases with road tests across the country. The schedule was announced ahead of the program’s 118th season and marks the first full slate under the expanded NCAA scheduling limits that allow a 32nd regular‑season game and an additional October exhibition.
Eleven of those contests will be played on Oklahoma soil, nine of them at the historic Gallagher‑Iba Arena, the venue that has been the backbone of Cowboy basketball for decades. In addition, neutral‑site games are slated for Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center and Tulsa’s BOK Center, giving the team a chance to bring the fan experience to nearby communities.
Early‑season experiments and neutral‑site tournaments
The Cowboys open with an exhibition against New Mexico on October 11, followed by a Homecoming clash with Tulsa on October 23 and a matchup against Wisconsin on October 27. These early games serve both as a warm‑up and as a chance to fine‑tune strategies before the regular season begins on November 2 against Incarnate Word.
A highlight of the road portion is the Nov. 12 trip to Texas A&M, continuing a home‑and‑home series that started with an 87‑63 victory for OSU in 2022. The team will also compete in the Rays Children’s Charleston Classic in South Carolina, where it will face Dayton, Minnesota, Northwestern, Utah and Virginia Tech across two neutral‑site contests.
The Bedlam rivalry returns to Oklahoma City
Perhaps the most anticipated event is the Dec. 12 Bedlam showdown at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, where the Cowboys will meet the Oklahoma Sooners in a men’s and women’s doubleheader. The rivalry, dating back to 1907, adds a storied narrative to the schedule and underscores the program’s deep roots in the state.
Additional home games include contests against Queens, Central Arkansas, Jackson State, Tennessee State, Grand Canyon, Saint Mary’s, Oral Roberts and Houston Christian, while the Cowboys will also travel to face Northwestern in Tulsa’s BOK Center on Dec. 20, marking their third appearance there since 2019.