The Field of 68, a popular college basketball commentary platform, is bringing back its 24‑Hour Opening Day Marathon, a novelty that will kick off with games as early as 3 a.m. in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on November 2.
The marathon returns
Six first‑round contests are slated for the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, pitting High Point against Liberty, Grambling State against Northern Illinois, Appalachian State against Merrimack, Queens against Winthrop, UAB against McNeese State, and Furman against Bethune‑Cookman.
The tournament will also spill into Sioux Falls, South Dakota, expanding the slate of mid‑major programs that receive national exposure during the opening week of the season.
Why it matters
Organizers say the marathon is designed to showcase elite mid‑major talent and to operate outside the conventional power‑conference hierarchy, giving smaller programs a chance to compete on a national stage without the usual structural barriers.
The concept was first launched by ESPN in 2008 and ran through 2017, but after a hiatus the revived version was conceived during the COVID‑19 pandemic by Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman, who will serve as co‑founders of the event.
Fans can purchase tickets through Visit York County’s website, securing access to the early‑morning action that promises high‑energy matchups and a fresh narrative for the sport.