A-State Basketball to Open MAC-SBC Challenge on November 3
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Sun Belt Conference (SBC) announced matchups for the first round of the 2025–26 MAC-SBC Challenge on Tuesday, with all games slated for Monday, Nov. 3. Both Arkansas State University (A-State) basketball programs will be in action, showcasing early non-conference competition.
The A-State women’s basketball team, led by fourth-year head coach Destinee Rogers, will host Ball State at First National Bank Arena. The Red Wolves and Cardinals have only met once before, with A-State claiming a narrow 74-72 win at the 2001 Loyola Marymount Thanksgiving Classic.
On the men’s side, newly appointed head coach Ryan Pannone will begin his tenure with a tough road test, as the Red Wolves travel to Athens, Ohio, to face the Bobcats inside the Convocation Center. A-State previously faced Ohio in the 2023–24 edition of the MAC-SBC Challenge, securing a 100-87 victory to even the all-time series at one game apiece. The Red Wolves enter the new season fresh off their first Sun Belt Conference regular season championship since 1998.
Last season, the MAC and SBC split the 24 games evenly on the men’s side, while MAC women’s teams held a 15-9 edge. A-State's men defeated Akron in overtime, 80-75, before falling just short in a 75-76 thriller at Kent State. The A-State women came up short in both of their 2024–25 Challenge contests, losing to Western Michigan (52-61) and Bowling Green (73-75).
The second round of the 2025–26 MAC-SBC Challenge will take place in February, with Sun Belt men’s teams and MAC women’s teams hosting. Matchups for those games will be announced in January.
Full non-conference and conference schedules for both A-State teams are expected to be released at a later date. Season tickets are currently available and can be purchased at AStateRedWolves.com/tickets or by calling (870) 972-ASU1.
2025–26 MAC-SBC Challenge Matchups
Men’s Basketball
App State at Central Michigan
Arkansas State at Ohio
Coastal Carolina at Western Michigan
Georgia State at Eastern Michigan
James Madison at Akron
Louisiana at Ball State
ULM at Northern Illinois
Marshall at UMass
Old Dominion at Miami (Ohio)
Southern Miss at Buffalo
South Alabama at Toledo
Texas State at Bowling Green
Troy at Kent State
Women’s Basketball
Western Michigan at App State
Ball State at Arkansas State
Miami (Ohio) at Coastal Carolina
Central Michigan at Georgia Southern
Kent State at James Madison
Bowling Green at Louisiana
Eastern Michigan at ULM
Buffalo at Marshall
UMass at Old Dominion
Akron at South Alabama
Northern Illinois at Southern Miss
Ohio at Texas State
Toledo at Troy