The 2026-27 college basketball season will open on Nov. 2 with a Field of 68 tipoff event featuring 16 mid-major programs.
The event is scheduled as an eight-game marathon, giving a national early-season platform to programs outside the sport’s traditional power-conference spotlight.
Opening-day showcases have become a notable part of the college basketball calendar, offering teams an immediate opportunity to begin building their résumés. This event will place mid-major programs at the center of the season’s first day of competition.