DEKALB, Ill. – Highlighted by an appearance in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon, the 2026-27 Northern Illinois University men's basketball non-conference schedule was announced on Thursday (Sept. 2). The Huskies will play 12 regular season non-conference contests, along with a pair of exhibitions, leading into their first season in the Horizon League.
"I think it is a great mix of opponents," said NIU men's basketball head coach Matt Majkrzak. "We tried to stay as regional as we could and we wish we had a few more home games but that is the nature of year one as a coach, we didn't inherit any home games, so we had to play the schedule we could find. It is a mix of games that are close to home and a few cool experiences for our guys, and that is the goal. We want to have as little travel as possible, unless it is something unique and cool opportunity, such as going to Arizona to play one of the best teams in the country, or our opening game (in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon).
"With all the Wisconsin ties we have, playing Marquette at Fiserv Forum where the (Milwaukee) Bucks play will be a cool experience. The good news is, a couple of the games that we have will be returned next year, so we should have a few more home games next season."
The Huskies will play a pair of exhibition games prior to the start of the regular season as NIU welcomes Northern Michigan, Coach Majkrzak's former program, to DeKalb for an exhibition game on Saturday, Oct. 17, before the Huskies travel to meet former conference rival Toledo in the Glass City on Sunday, Oct. 25.
NIU begins the regular season with the previously announced matchup against Grambling on Monday, Nov. 2, in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. The contest will begin at 2 a.m. at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, S.C.
Trips to Tulsa (Thursday, Nov. 5) and Dayton (Saturday, Nov. 7) follow before the Huskies host Clarke University in the regular season home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
The Huskies close November with five-straight away from home, beginning at Bellarmine on Sat, Nov. 14. A visit to Marquette on Wednesday, Nov. 18, is followed by a matchup against Bowling Green on Saturday, Nov. 21. NIU then travels to SIU Edwardsville on the day before Thanksgiving (Nov. 25) before meeting Eastern Illinois in Charleston in the first matchup of a same season home-and-home series on Saturday, Nov. 28.
After opening December with its first two Horizon League contests, which will be announced at a later date, NIU will travel to Lindenwood on Saturday, Dec. 12.
The return meeting against Eastern Illinois will take place at the Convocation Center on Saturday, Dec. 19, before the Huskies travel to Arizona to face the Wildcats on Monday, Dec. 21, in the final non-conference game before NIU resumes Horizon League play.
Season tickets for the first year of the Matt Majkrzak era as the Huskies move into the Horizon League, are available now at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling the NIU Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).
