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University of Minnesota Athletics
Men’s Basketball Unveils Non-Conference Schedule
8/28/2026 11:56:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The University of Minnesota men's basketball program unveils its 2026-27 non-conference schedule, which features eight opportunities to watch the Golden Gophers at The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota this season.
Minnesota kicks off its 132nd season with a pair of exhibitions. The first comes on Oct. 15 when Minnesota hosts Omaha, while the second is on Oct. 23 when the Gophers travel to Creighton to take on the Bluejays. Minnesota will host Creighton for an exhibition game in October of 2027 at the Barn.
Minnesota officially opens the 2026-27 campaign with back-to-back home games. The Golden Gophers open the season vs. North Dakota on Nov. 2. The Gophers will host St. Thomas for the first time after becoming a Division I sport on Nov. 6. Following the tilt with the Tommies, the Gophers travel to Cincinnati on Nov. 9. Minnesota returns to the Barn to host a pair of games on Nov. 12 and Nov. 16 vs. Southern and Western Illinois.
The Gophers are back on the road for three straight. Minnesota heads to Charleston, S.C., Nov. 20-22 to take part in the 2026 Shriners Children's Charleston Classic. The Shriners Children's Charleston Classic is an elite NCAA Division I basketball tournament hosted at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina. This year's event will be held on November 20 and 22 and consist of three standalone games on each day, with each team playing one game on November 20 and one game on November 22. Matchups, tip-off times, and ESPN network designations for all games will be announced at a later date.
Minnesota makes its second appearance in two years at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., Nov. 28 to take on California.
Following two Big Ten games in December, the Gophers close out the non-conference portion with a neutral site game and three home games. Minnesota will play SMU at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas on Dec. 12, with a future Gopher/Mustang matchup scheduled locally for 2028. The Gophers close out the 2026 calendar year with three straight home games against Texas Southern (Dec. 16), Alcorn State (Dec. 20) and UTSA (Dec. 29).
Gopher men's basketball season tickets start as low as $340. Fans interested in becoming a Gopher men's basketball season ticket holder may speak with a dedicated Season Ticket Expert by calling 1-800-U-GOPHER (Option 2) or purchase online by clicking HERE.
Date, Opponent
Thursday, October 15 vs. Omaha (exhib.)
Friday, October 23 at Creighton (exhib.)*
Monday, November 2 vs. North Dakota
Friday, November 6 vs. St. Thomas
Monday, November 9 at Cincinnati*
Thursday, November 12 vs. Southern
Monday, November 16 vs. Western Illinois
Friday, November 20 at Shriners Children's Charleston Classic (Opponent TBD)
Sunday, November 22 at at Shriners Children's Charleston Classic (Opponent TBD)
Saturday, November 28 - vs. Cal (Sioux Falls, S.D., Sanford Pentagon)
Saturday, December 12 - SMU (Comerica Center, Frisco, Texas) #
Wednesday, December 16 vs. Texas Southern
Sunday, December 20 vs. Alcorn State
Tuesday, December 29 vs. UTSA
home games in bold
* indicates return game to be played at The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota in 2027-28
# indicates return game to be played in Minneapolis area in 2028-29
Minnesota kicks off its 132nd season with a pair of exhibitions. The first comes on Oct. 15 when Minnesota hosts Omaha, while the second is on Oct. 23 when the Gophers travel to Creighton to take on the Bluejays. Minnesota will host Creighton for an exhibition game in October of 2027 at the Barn.
Minnesota officially opens the 2026-27 campaign with back-to-back home games. The Golden Gophers open the season vs. North Dakota on Nov. 2. The Gophers will host St. Thomas for the first time after becoming a Division I sport on Nov. 6. Following the tilt with the Tommies, the Gophers travel to Cincinnati on Nov. 9. Minnesota returns to the Barn to host a pair of games on Nov. 12 and Nov. 16 vs. Southern and Western Illinois.
The Gophers are back on the road for three straight. Minnesota heads to Charleston, S.C., Nov. 20-22 to take part in the 2026 Shriners Children's Charleston Classic. The Shriners Children's Charleston Classic is an elite NCAA Division I basketball tournament hosted at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina. This year's event will be held on November 20 and 22 and consist of three standalone games on each day, with each team playing one game on November 20 and one game on November 22. Matchups, tip-off times, and ESPN network designations for all games will be announced at a later date.
Minnesota makes its second appearance in two years at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., Nov. 28 to take on California.
Following two Big Ten games in December, the Gophers close out the non-conference portion with a neutral site game and three home games. Minnesota will play SMU at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas on Dec. 12, with a future Gopher/Mustang matchup scheduled locally for 2028. The Gophers close out the 2026 calendar year with three straight home games against Texas Southern (Dec. 16), Alcorn State (Dec. 20) and UTSA (Dec. 29).
Gopher men's basketball season tickets start as low as $340. Fans interested in becoming a Gopher men's basketball season ticket holder may speak with a dedicated Season Ticket Expert by calling 1-800-U-GOPHER (Option 2) or purchase online by clicking HERE.
Date, Opponent
Thursday, October 15 vs. Omaha (exhib.)
Friday, October 23 at Creighton (exhib.)*
Monday, November 2 vs. North Dakota
Friday, November 6 vs. St. Thomas
Monday, November 9 at Cincinnati*
Thursday, November 12 vs. Southern
Monday, November 16 vs. Western Illinois
Friday, November 20 at Shriners Children's Charleston Classic (Opponent TBD)
Sunday, November 22 at at Shriners Children's Charleston Classic (Opponent TBD)
Saturday, November 28 - vs. Cal (Sioux Falls, S.D., Sanford Pentagon)
Saturday, December 12 - SMU (Comerica Center, Frisco, Texas) #
Wednesday, December 16 vs. Texas Southern
Sunday, December 20 vs. Alcorn State
Tuesday, December 29 vs. UTSA
home games in bold
* indicates return game to be played at The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota in 2027-28
# indicates return game to be played in Minneapolis area in 2028-29
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, July 09
Thursday, July 02
Tuesday, June 30