A demanding non‑conference slate
Virginia Tech announced its 2026‑27 non‑conference basketball schedule, a lineup that pits the Hokies against five Power Four programs and a handful of mid‑major opponents. The season opens on November 3 at home against Coppin State, a meeting that marks the first contest between the schools since 1973.
Just two days later, the Hokies host Mercer, another early‑season matchup that adds to a packed November schedule. The excitement builds as Iowa, fresh off a surprise run to the NCAA Elite Eight, travels to Blacksburg on November 10, promising a high‑profile test early in the year.
The centerpiece of the non‑conference calendar is the 2026 Shriner’s Children’s Charleston Classic, where Virginia Tech will join a field that includes Dayton, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oklahoma State and Utah. The team is slated to play two games in Charleston, South Carolina, on November 20 and 22, using the neutral‑site event as a springboard for the rest of the season.
December brings its own set of challenges. On December 1 the Hokies will host Ole Miss in the annual SEC/ACC Challenge, a game that will be played on their home floor at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum. A week later, the squad hits the road for its first visit to Morgantown, West Virginia, since 2015, renewing a rivalry that has been dormant for a decade.
Overall, the schedule features nine home games, two neutral‑site contests and a trip to Charleston, providing a balanced mix of exposure and competition. Additional home games against Maryland Eastern Shore (December 10), Radford (December 13) and VMI (December 21) round out the non‑conference slate before the team transitions into conference play.
The non‑conference slate also includes a December 19 neutral‑site showdown with UCF in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the Knights, fresh from a first‑round NCAA upset over UCLA, will test the Hokies' mettle on the road.