West Virginia University, based in Morgantown, has unveiled its 2026‑27 men’s basketball nonconference schedule, a slate crafted to test the Mountaineers against top‑tier competition early and to fortify their résumé for the NCAA Tournament.
A Bold Nonconference Roadmap
The plan opens with three preseason exhibitions in late October – Maryland on the 18th, Glenville State on the 23rd and Wheeling on the 28th – before a three‑game homestand in early November that pits the Mountaineers against Niagara, Stetson and Mercer.
A marquee showcase follows in Las Vegas, where the Players Era 8 tournament will offer NIL incentives and potential matchups with other elite programs, setting the tone for a season that includes a November 17 showdown with Auburn, a November 18 clash with Kansas or UNLV, and a November 19 game against one of Houston, Rutgers, Florida or Notre Dame.
Rivalry games pepper the calendar, highlighted by the Dick Vitale Invitational in Charlotte on November 27, where WVU holds a perfect 5‑0 record against North Carolina, and a December 5 meeting at Hope Coliseum that marks the 80th installment of the Virginia Tech series, a contest the Mountaineers lead 49‑30. The 193rd meeting with Pittsburgh on December 9 will take place at PPG Paints Arena as part of the Hope Gas Backyard Basketball Classic.
The nonconference slate wraps up with home games against Coppin State on December 13 and Northern Arizona on December 16, before a December 21 road trip to Greensboro to face Wake Forest, completing a schedule designed to challenge the Mountaineers and enhance their postseason prospects.