A New Era of College Basketball Showcase
On November 29, 2026, the nation will turn its eyes to Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, where the South Florida Bulls will open against the Saint Louis Billikens in the inaugural A‑10/American Showcase, a broadcast produced by ESPN.
The Billikens arrive as defending Atlantic 10 regular‑season champions, having advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and will field three returning starters under head coach Josh Schertz.
South Florida, under first‑year head coach Chris Mack, will field a roster reshaped by 15 newcomers, including a transfer portal class that boasts four players rated .9100 or higher and a four‑star rating by 247Sports, positioning the Bulls among the nation’s top recruiting classes.
The showcase will unfold as a double‑header, pairing the Bulls with the Billikens and later featuring a Memphis versus Dayton matchup, all part of a multi‑year agreement between ESPN, the Atlantic 10 and the American Conference to highlight elite programs.
Beyond this debut, South Florida has slated non‑conference contests with DePaul, St. Joseph’s, George Mason, Dayton and Kennesaw State, and calls the 10,400‑seat Yuengling Center on its Tampa campus home.
The event promises to bolster each team’s résumé for postseason consideration, while giving fans a first look at the new talent that will shape the upcoming season.