Ohio State and the University of Cincinnati will meet on October 7, 2026 in an exhibition basketball game that forms part of the CareSource Invitational, a charitable event dedicated to mental‑health awareness and suicide‑prevention fundraising.
The contest will take place at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, a facility that recently completed a $260 million transformation and now serves as a year‑round sports and entertainment hub.
The evening will feature a doubleheader, beginning with the Ohio State versus Cincinnati matchup, followed by a second game pitting Xavier against Dayton.
The CareSource Invitational, now in its fourth year, has engaged more than 100,000 college‑basketball fans across the United States, channeling its platform toward whole‑person health initiatives in the communities it serves.
Beyond this event, the broader Cincinnati Open — an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tournament — has attracted over 285,000 spectators and been broadcast in 187 global markets, underscoring the region’s growing sports footprint.
Organizers say the partnership highlights how high‑profile athletics can translate excitement into tangible support for mental‑health resources, reinforcing CareSource’s commitment to community well‑being.
A Game With Purpose
The initiative reflects a growing trend of sports organizations leveraging their reach to drive social impact, turning a single night of competition into a catalyst for conversation and funding around mental‑health challenges.