The Kansas State men's basketball team is set to begin its 2026‑27 campaign with a pair of exhibition contests that will test the squad against familiar Big 12 opponents. The first of those games is scheduled for October 23 at Bramlage Coliseum, where the Wildcats will host the Missouri Tigers. A week later, on October 26, the team will travel to Grand Island, Nebraska, to meet the Cornhuskers at Eihusen Arena.
Both matchups mark a return to the schedule for rivals that have shaped Kansas State’s recent history. The Wildcats and the Tigers met in an exhibition last season, and the team will now face them again in a home setting. The Nebraska game will be played at a neutral site roughly 204 miles north of Manhattan and 90 miles west of Lincoln, providing a different environment for the team to fine‑tune its tactics.
Coach Casey Alexander, who has guided the program through a period of transition, emphasized the value of these early tests. “These games give us a chance to evaluate our depth and chemistry before we open the regular season,” he said, noting that the exhibition series also serves as a warm‑up for the November 3 home opener against South Dakota State.
Looking Ahead to the Regular Season
The regular season debut will take place at Bramlage Coliseum on November 3, when the Wildcats host the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State. The game will be the first of many opportunities for the team to showcase the progress made during the exhibition period, as they prepare for a demanding conference slate.