The University of Missouri announced its complete men's basketball slate for the 2026‑27 season, a schedule that blends home‑court tradition with a demanding road slate.
The Tigers will open the campaign on November 3 at Mizzou Arena, hosting Cleveland State in a game that sets the tone for a season that includes fifteen contests against teams that have recently appeared in the NCAA Tournament.
Just three days later, Missouri will travel to St. Louis to meet the Billikens at Enterprise Center, marking the first of several high‑profile non‑conference matchups.
The schedule also features a series of neutral‑site events, including a November 15 appearance at the United Center in Chicago where the Tigers will square off against Marquette, and two games at the T‑Mobile Center in Kansas City against Kansas on December 6 and Nebraska on December 12.
Additional road tests include a December 1 clash with Pittsburgh in the ACC/SEC Challenge, a December 20 trip to Bloomington to face Indiana before the Braggin’ Rights showdown with Illinois, and a January 2 start to conference play at Arkansas's Bud Walton Arena.
Coach Dennis Gates emphasized that the non‑conference slate is designed to sharpen the team’s depth and prepare it for the rigors of SEC competition, noting that the mix of power‑conference opponents and mid‑major programs offers valuable experience.
The full slate also showcases home games against a diverse set of opponents such as SIU‑Edwardsville, Alcorn State, Le Moyne, Evansville, Arkansas‑Pine Bluff and Chicago State, providing opportunities for the Tigers to build momentum early in the season.
Key Non‑Conference Highlights
Among the marquee matchups, the game against Kansas at the T‑Mobile Center stands out as a chance for Missouri to test itself against a perennial national contender, while the neutral‑site game against Marquette offers a chance to attract national attention in a major market.
Looking ahead, the Tigers aim to translate early non‑conference victories into a strong start in SEC play, a goal that coach Dennis Gates believes is within reach given the team’s recruiting class and returning talent.