Utah State University announced Monday the 2026-27 men's basketball nonconference schedule, a slate that includes 16 regular season games and three preseason exhibitions. The announcement comes as the program prepares for its inaugural season in the Pac-12 conference under head coach Ben Jacobson, who was hired in March 2026 to lead the program into its next era.
Preseason and Early Season Slate
The Aggies will begin their preseason preparations with three exhibition games scheduled for October. The team will host Denver at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday, Oct. 10, followed by an away exhibition at Saint Mary's on Saturday, Oct. 17. The preseason slate concludes on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a home exhibition against Santa Clara.
The official 2026-27 campaign begins on Monday, Nov. 2, when Utah State hosts Idaho State. This matchup kicks off a five-game home stretch to open the regular season. Following the opener, the Aggies will host Omaha on Nov. 7, Utah Tech on Nov. 10, UC San Diego on Nov. 13, and Weber State on Nov. 18.
Multi-Team Events and December Matchups
The schedule features two multi-team events (MTEs) during the fall and winter months. In late November, the Aggies will travel to Palm Springs, California, for the Acrisure Series. During this trip, Utah State is scheduled to face SMU on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and USC on Thursday, Nov. 26.
Following the California trip, the Aggies will travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to face former conference opponent New Mexico on Sunday, Nov. 29. The team's December schedule includes a home game against Montana on Dec. 5 and a highly anticipated in-state matchup against BYU in Provo on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Year-End Nonconference Schedule
The Aggies' second multi-team event will take place at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, as part of the Texas Legends College Classic. Utah State will face Tulsa on Saturday, Dec. 19, and George Washington on Monday, Dec. 21.
After the Christmas holiday, the team will host Pacific on Tuesday, Dec. 29, and will conclude the 2026 calendar year with a New Year's Eve contest against Westminster on Thursday, Dec. 31. The nonconference schedule will conclude on Saturday, Feb. 20, when the team travels to play Memphis, marking a break in the team's Pac-12 conference schedule.
The Jacobson Era Begins
The release of the schedule highlights the beginning of the Ben Jacobson era at Utah State. Jacobson was hired on March 30, 2026, as the 23rd men's basketball head coach in the program's history, according to a press release from Utah State University Athletics.
Jacobson joins the Aggies following a 20-year tenure at the University of Northern Iowa, where he established himself as one of the most successful coaches in college basketball. During his time at UNI, he posted a 397-259 record and led the Panthers to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2010.
Jacobson's Coaching Legacy
The hiring of Jacobson was described by Utah State Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker as a move to find a leader capable of driving the program to new heights within the Pac-12. Walker noted that Jacobson is regarded across the industry as one of the best coaches in the country.
Jacobson's career is marked by significant accolades, including being the all-time leader in conference wins in the Missouri Valley Conference with 220 victories. He is a five-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and has coached multiple players who earned All-MVC honors.
Future Schedule Details
While the nonconference dates are now set, the full Pac-12 Conference schedule, including specific television schedules and tip-off times, will be released by Utah State at a later date.
