Iowa State has released its complete non‑conference schedule for the 2026‑27 men’s basketball season, outlining a demanding slate that blends home‑court showcase events with road tests and a high‑profile tournament in Las Vegas.
The Cyclones will open the season with an exhibition clash against Creighton before traveling to face Northwestern, and they will culminate that early stretch with a home opener against Southern Miss on November 6 at Hilton Coliseum.
The regular‑season opener comes a few days later at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Iowa State will meet Memphis, setting the tone for a schedule that also includes a nine‑day stretch at home against Southern and Niagara.
Vegas showcase
Later in November, the team will head to Las Vegas to compete in the Players Era Championship from November 24‑28, a showcase that pits them against a field of elite programs and adds a national spotlight to the early season.
December brings a series of home games against Alcorn State, Purdue on December 6, and a renewal of the Iowa Corn Cy‑Hawk Series in Iowa City against the Hawkeyes on December 10, followed by contests with North Carolina Central and Missouri State in Kansas City.
The non‑conference slate wraps up with games against Northern Arizona and New Hampshire back at Hilton Coliseum, giving the Cyclones a chance to finish the pre‑conference stretch on a high note.