Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Men’s Basketball Announces 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
8/20/2025 9:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Northwestern men's basketball team has released its non-conference schedule for the 2025-26 season. The slate features 11 games, including five matchups against high-major opponents. Six of the Wildcats' non-conference games will take place at home inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, with one true road game and four neutral-site contests rounding out the list. Tip times and TV network assignments will be announced at a later date.
Season tickets are available now. Northwestern will face Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue and Washington at home in Big Ten play on dates to be announced.
The 'Cats will open the 2025-26 slate with three consecutive home games. Northwestern will face Mercyhurst in the season-opener at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Monday, Nov. 3, followed by home contests with Boston University on Friday, Nov. 7 and Cleveland State on Monday, Nov. 10.
In its first and only true road game of the non-conference schedule, Northwestern will take on DePaul on Friday, Nov. 14 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. A week later, the 'Cats head to the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. for a meeting with Virginia on Friday, Nov. 21 and a matchup against South Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 23.
As previously announced this week, Northwestern will play a neutral-site game against Oklahoma State on Thursday, Nov. 27 at the United Center in Chicago. The Thanksgiving Day test will be the Wildcats' first regular-season appearance at the United Center since December of 2016 when they took down Dayton 67-64.
The 'Cats return to Welsh-Ryan Arena in December for a two-game homestand against Jackson State on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Valparaiso on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
In the final neutral-site game of the non-conference schedule, Northwestern heads to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. to take on Butler on Saturday, Dec. 20. The Wildcats will then wrap up the non-conference slate with a home game against Howard on Tuesday, Dec. 30
Additionally, the Wildcats will play a pair of exhibitions against Division I opponents, as they travel to Iowa State on Sunday, Oct. 26 and host Illinois State on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Northwestern looks to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2026 for the third time in four years under the leadership of Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins.
Northwestern Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Home games listed in BOLD
Season tickets are available now. Northwestern will face Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue and Washington at home in Big Ten play on dates to be announced.
It's beautiful.
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) August 20, 2025
Our 2025-26 non conference schedule is here ?? pic.twitter.com/8hPUJF4aNI
The 'Cats will open the 2025-26 slate with three consecutive home games. Northwestern will face Mercyhurst in the season-opener at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Monday, Nov. 3, followed by home contests with Boston University on Friday, Nov. 7 and Cleveland State on Monday, Nov. 10.
In its first and only true road game of the non-conference schedule, Northwestern will take on DePaul on Friday, Nov. 14 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. A week later, the 'Cats head to the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. for a meeting with Virginia on Friday, Nov. 21 and a matchup against South Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 23.
As previously announced this week, Northwestern will play a neutral-site game against Oklahoma State on Thursday, Nov. 27 at the United Center in Chicago. The Thanksgiving Day test will be the Wildcats' first regular-season appearance at the United Center since December of 2016 when they took down Dayton 67-64.
The 'Cats return to Welsh-Ryan Arena in December for a two-game homestand against Jackson State on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Valparaiso on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
In the final neutral-site game of the non-conference schedule, Northwestern heads to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. to take on Butler on Saturday, Dec. 20. The Wildcats will then wrap up the non-conference slate with a home game against Howard on Tuesday, Dec. 30
Additionally, the Wildcats will play a pair of exhibitions against Division I opponents, as they travel to Iowa State on Sunday, Oct. 26 and host Illinois State on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Northwestern looks to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2026 for the third time in four years under the leadership of Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins.
Northwestern Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Home games listed in BOLD
| Date | Opponent | Location |
| Sun., Oct. 26 | Iowa State | Ames, Iowa |
| Wed., Oct. 29 | Illinois State | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Mon., Nov. 3 | Mercyhurst | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Fri., Nov. 7 | Boston University | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Mon., Nov. 10 | Cleveland State | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Fri., Nov. 14 | DePaul | Chicago, Ill. |
| Fri., Nov. 21 | Virginia | White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. |
| Sun., Nov. 23 | South Carolina | White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. |
| Thurs., Nov. 27 | Oklahoma State | Chicago, Ill. |
| Sat., Dec. 13 | Jackson State | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Tue., Dec. 16 | Valparaiso | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Sat., Dec. 20 | Butler | Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Tue., Dec. 30 | Howard | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
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