The Horizon League men’s basketball schedule 2026-27 is complete, and the season begins on Monday, November 2, 2026. This year has one big change: Northern Illinois joins the league. This guide lists every game from November through February with start times in Eastern Time (ET), plus conference dates, TV notes and the key storylines.
Horizon League Men’s Basketball Schedule 2026-27 at a Glance
The league announced its conference schedule on September 10. Each team plays a 20-game league slate. That means 120 conference games across the league, and they are all in the tables below. The composite schedule also lists every non-conference game for the 12 teams, so you can follow your team from the opener to the final league weekend. wsuraidersniuhuskie/s
New Member: Northern Illinois Joins the Horizon League
NIU becomes the league’s 12th full member, joining Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, IU Indy, Northern Kentucky, Oakland, Purdue Fort Wayne, Robert Morris, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Wright State and Youngstown State. The Huskies were in this league once before, from 1994 to 1997, when it was called the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. Matt Majkrzak is coaching his first season at NIU, and several of the Huskies’ league games are first meetings in years, such as their trip to Youngstown State on Dec. 30. niu sports moving to horizon league in 2026 27 +2
Defending Champions and What to Watch
Wright State is defending both the regular-season and tournament titles. The Raiders open league play on the road at Milwaukee on December 3, then visit Green Bay on December 5. They also make their first trip to NIU on January 9. The league race should be tight, because every team plays the same 20-game schedule, with 10 home and 10 away. wsuraiders
Conference Play: When It Starts
The league schedule begins early. There is one weekend of conference games in early December before non-conference schedules wrap up. Twelve league games are played on December 2, 3 and 5. After that, teams go back to non-conference play until December 30, when the full league schedule starts. From January 3 onward, almost every week has several conference games, usually on Wednesdays or Thursdays and again on weekends. The regular season ends on Saturday, February 27, 2027, with six games, including IU Indy at NIU at 5:30 PM ET. wsuraiders
Horizon League men’s basketball schedule 2026-27: November 2026
November is non-conference only. Teams play high-major opponents on the road, such as Michigan, Missouri, Ohio State and Alabama, along with early-season home games. Wright State, for example, plays several road games before conference play. Some November games are early-season exhibitions against smaller schools. wsuraiders
Horizon League men’s basketball schedule 2026-27: December 2026
December has the opening conference weekend (Dec. 2, 3 and 5), then more non-conference games, with several teams on major road trips. League play restarts on December 30.
Horizon League men’s basketball schedule 2026-27: January 2027
January is the heart of the season. Every game on the January table is a conference game, and many are televised on ESPN+.
Horizon League men’s basketball schedule 2026-27: February 2027
February decides the seeding. All games are conference games, and the schedule ends on February 27.
How to Watch Horizon League Basketball
Many of the league’s games stream on ESPN+, and some non-conference games are on other networks, such as B1G+, SECN+, ESPNU and ESPN2. The tables show the TV and radio notes listed for each game. All start times are in Eastern Time, so subtract one hour for Central, two for Mountain and three for Pacific. Streaming rights can change, so check the league site on game day.
Horizon League Basketball FAQ
When does Horizon League conference play start?
It starts December 2, 2026, with a short opening weekend, then continues from December 30.
How many conference games does each team play?
20 games, 10 home and 10 away.
When does the regular season end?
Saturday, February 27, 2027.
Who is the newest Horizon League team?
Northern Illinois, which joined on July 1, 2026.
