The University of California’s men’s basketball program has announced its complete 2026‑27 nonconference schedule, a 14‑game slate that blends early‑season tune‑ups with high‑profile matchups. Eleven of the games will be played on the team’s home floor at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, giving the Bears ample opportunity to build chemistry before conference play begins.
Schedule Highlights
Among the new opponents are five programs making their first appearance against California, including Adams State, Radford, Utah Tech, East Texas A&M and Alabama State, while the long‑standing rivalry with USC returns for the 273rd meeting since the 1916‑17 season. The schedule also features a neutral contest in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, against Minnesota and a road trip to Salt Lake City to face Utah.
Early preparation includes exhibition games at Loyola Marymount on October 16 and Oregon State on October 24, leading into the season opener on November 2 against Adams State, which will be paired with a doubleheader for the Cal women’s team. A marquee event, the inaugural Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic, will pit the Bears against Houston on November 8, adding a neutral‑site showcase to the lineup.
The nonconference slate concludes with a five‑game home stretch in December, featuring matchups against Vanderbilt, Southeastern Louisiana, UC Riverside and Northeastern, before the ACC schedule is announced in late September or early October, with tip times and broadcast details to be finalized thereafter.