The University of Georgia’s men’s basketball program is set to begin its 2026‑27 campaign with a three‑game preseason slate that marks a notable shift from the previous two‑game format. The Bulldogs will open at home against Georgia State on October 7, then host Charlotte on October 16 before traveling to face Clemson on October 23, a schedule made possible by the NCAA’s recent expansion of exhibition contests.
A deeper look at the preseason expansion
Tickets for those home exhibitions are being bundled into season‑ticket packages, guaranteeing access to all 18 regular‑season games at Stegeman Coliseum and giving fans a seamless way to follow the team from the first preseason buzzer to the final conference showdown.
The regular season will debut with a doubleheader at home against N.C. Central on November 2, a matchup that also features the Georgia women’s team in a separate contest against West Georgia, underscoring the program’s deep roots in the local basketball community.
Later in the schedule, the Bulldogs will take part in the SEC/ACC Challenge, meeting Boston College on December 1, while the conference opener against Texas is slated for early January, one of six SEC opponents slated to visit Athens as highlighted in Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology for ESPN.com.
Head coach Mike White, now in his fifth year at the helm, is targeting a third straight NCAA Tournament berth and a fourth consecutive 20‑win season, a goal that reflects both the continuity of his staff and the influx of nine newcomers — including five transfers and four freshmen — who will join six returning players on the roster.
The broader context of the preseason expansion reflects the NCAA’s willingness to give teams more flexibility in scheduling, a change that Lunardi notes could reshape how programs approach non‑conference play and bolster early‑season competitiveness across the board.