The Mid-American Conference and the Sun Belt Conference have announced a multi‑year extension of their basketball challenge, guaranteeing annual contests through the 2028‑29 season. The agreement pairs 12 men’s and women’s programs from each league, ensuring every participant a home and an away fixture each year, while the contests are streamed on an ESPN platform.
Scheduling Details and Partnership
Scheduling is coordinated by Ordinal Sports Group, which leans on NET rankings, geographic proximity and historic matchup frequency to craft the slate. The 2026‑27 campaign opens with games on November 2 and February 6, and the full set of pairings for the next three seasons has already been mapped out.
MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said the challenge delivers meaningful exposure and competitive opportunities for the conferences, while Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill pointed to the series’ track record of producing some of the best non‑conference matchups.
Looking Ahead
With the extension in place, the conferences are poised to deepen their partnership and further elevate the profile of mid‑major basketball, giving fans a steady stream of high‑stakes games that showcase talent from both leagues across the Midwest and the Gulf Coast.