MAC-SBC Basketball Challenge Extended Through 2028-29 Season
6/24/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Sun Belt Conference (SBC) have announced an extension of the MAC-SBC Challenge in men's and women's basketball through the 2028-29 season.
The 12 MAC men's and women's basketball teams will face off against 12 Sun Belt teams in a pair of contests each year, with each game being carried on an ESPN platform.
"The MAC-SBC Challenge has proven to be a tremendous opportunity for our men's and women's basketball programs to compete against quality opponents while providing meaningful exposure," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. "We are pleased to extend this partnership with the Sun Belt Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to continuing a series that benefits our student-athletes, institutions and fans through highly competitive, nationally visible matchups."
"Over its three-year history, the MAC-SBC Challenge has annually produced many of the best non-conference matchups for our men's and women's basketball teams," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. "We are thrilled to continue this scheduling alliance with the Mid-American Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to these compelling NET-driven matchups against peer institutions."
Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge will be guaranteed one home and one away game each season.
Ordinal Sports Group will continue to assist with scheduling, using NET data, geographic proximity and historical matchup frequency to guide the pairings.
The 2026-27 season will kick off with the opening MAC-SBC Challenge matchups on Monday, November 2. Sun Belt men's teams will host MAC counterparts, while MAC women's teams will welcome Sun Belt teams.
The second round, scheduled for Saturday, February 6, will feature Sun Belt women's teams hosting MAC opponents and MAC men's teams hosting Sun Belt opponents.
For more information on MAC Men's & Women's Basketball, please visit GetSomeMACtion.com.
2026-27
Nov. 2 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 2 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 6 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 6 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
2027-28
Nov. 8 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Nov. 8 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
Feb. 5 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Feb. 5 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
2028-29
Nov. 6 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 6 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 3 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 3 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
The 12 MAC men's and women's basketball teams will face off against 12 Sun Belt teams in a pair of contests each year, with each game being carried on an ESPN platform.
"The MAC-SBC Challenge has proven to be a tremendous opportunity for our men's and women's basketball programs to compete against quality opponents while providing meaningful exposure," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. "We are pleased to extend this partnership with the Sun Belt Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to continuing a series that benefits our student-athletes, institutions and fans through highly competitive, nationally visible matchups."
"Over its three-year history, the MAC-SBC Challenge has annually produced many of the best non-conference matchups for our men's and women's basketball teams," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. "We are thrilled to continue this scheduling alliance with the Mid-American Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to these compelling NET-driven matchups against peer institutions."
Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge will be guaranteed one home and one away game each season.
Ordinal Sports Group will continue to assist with scheduling, using NET data, geographic proximity and historical matchup frequency to guide the pairings.
The 2026-27 season will kick off with the opening MAC-SBC Challenge matchups on Monday, November 2. Sun Belt men's teams will host MAC counterparts, while MAC women's teams will welcome Sun Belt teams.
The second round, scheduled for Saturday, February 6, will feature Sun Belt women's teams hosting MAC opponents and MAC men's teams hosting Sun Belt opponents.
For more information on MAC Men's & Women's Basketball, please visit GetSomeMACtion.com.
2026-27
Nov. 2 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 2 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 6 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 6 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
2027-28
Nov. 8 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Nov. 8 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
Feb. 5 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Feb. 5 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
2028-29
Nov. 6 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 6 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 3 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 3 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
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