A Milestone Meeting in Sioux Falls
The second game of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon will be played on November 2, 2026 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and will be streamed live on the Field of 68: After Dark YouTube channel, giving fans a chance to watch the matchup online.
UTEP is preparing for its move to the Mountain West Conference for the 2026‑27 academic year, while Northern Kentucky, a Horizon League mainstay, enters its seventh season with a winning record in five of the last seven years.
This contest marks the first ever meeting between the two programs and represents each team’s inaugural appearance at the Pentagon, a venue that has become a focal point for mid‑major basketball events in the Upper Midwest.
The matchup will pit the Miners’ new conference outlook against the Norse’s consistent .500‑plus performance history, setting the stage for a compelling early‑season narrative that could influence both teams’ trajectories.
Commentary will be provided by industry veteran Joe Golding alongside former coach Darrin Horn, offering expert analysis of the teams’ prospects and the broader implications of realignment.