University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Northern Colorado Men's Basketball Announces 2026-27 Schedule
8/19/2026 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado men's basketball has officially unveiled its 2025-26 schedule head coach Steve Smiley announced along with the Big Sky Conference Wednesday afternoon.
"We're really excited about this year's schedule," Smiley commented. "There is no doubt that we have an extremely challenging non-conference schedule, which we believe will help us get ready for the Big Sky season. I think this year will have a different feel to it overall, with a newness in both the non-conference and the Big Sky."
UNC will start with a neutral site exhibition against Wyoming on Oct. 11 before the official season and home opener against Colorado College on Nov. 2. The Bears will then look to make a statement on the road against Arizona State on Nov. 6.
The Bears will return home for one game against Northern New Mexico (Nov. 10) before a neutral site against South Dakota State in Rapid City, South Dakota on Nov. 14. The following week UNC will have another opportunity against a Power Five opponent, again on the road, this time against BYU on Nov. 18.
Northern Colorado will return home for one game against Justice University (Nov. 21) before traveling Mexico for the Cancun Challenge. The two-game set will open with SE Louisiana on Nov. 24 followed by a game against either North Dakota or Detroit Mercy the following day.
After Thanksgiving the Bears travel to California to take on San Diego on Nov. 28 before returning home for the first two conference games of the season against Idaho (Dec. 3) and Eastern Washington (Dec. 5).
Non-conference schedule closes out with two games on the road. Starting with the third Power Five opponent in Stanford (Dec. 14) followed by the conclusion of the Cancun Classic against College of Charleston (Dec. 18) in South Carolina. The final non-conference game comes at home against Regis on Dec. 20.
The conference schedule leads the way through the rest of the season with eight home games during the new year. At home the Bears will face Idaho State (Jan. 14), Weber State (Jan. 16), Portland State (Jan. 25), Montana State (Feb. 4), Montana (Feb. 6), Utah Tech (Feb. 18), Southern Utah (Feb. 20), and Northern Arizona (Mar. 1).
The road Big Sky slate includes Montana (Dec. 31), Montana State (Jan. 2), Southern Utah (Jan. 7), Utah Tech (Jan. 9), Northern Arizona (Jan. 23), Eastern Washington (Jan. 28), Idaho (Jan. 30), Weber State (Feb. 11), Idaho State (Feb. 13), and Portland State (Feb. 27).
The Big Sky Tournament follows the regular season going from Mar. 5-10 in Boise, Idaho.
"I'm personally looking forward to playing several new opponents, including Arizona State, Stanford, College of Charleston, SE Louisiana, and many more teams that I've personally never had the opportunity to compete against," Smiley said. "The Big Sky will have a different feel as well, with the additions of Utah Tech and Southern Utah and the subtraction of Sacramento State. One thing I know is that our league will be extremely competitive again and will be a battle every night!"
FOLLOW THE BEARS: Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action at uncbears.com and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (@UNC_BearsMBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsMBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsMBB).
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"We're really excited about this year's schedule," Smiley commented. "There is no doubt that we have an extremely challenging non-conference schedule, which we believe will help us get ready for the Big Sky season. I think this year will have a different feel to it overall, with a newness in both the non-conference and the Big Sky."
UNC will start with a neutral site exhibition against Wyoming on Oct. 11 before the official season and home opener against Colorado College on Nov. 2. The Bears will then look to make a statement on the road against Arizona State on Nov. 6.
The Bears will return home for one game against Northern New Mexico (Nov. 10) before a neutral site against South Dakota State in Rapid City, South Dakota on Nov. 14. The following week UNC will have another opportunity against a Power Five opponent, again on the road, this time against BYU on Nov. 18.
Northern Colorado will return home for one game against Justice University (Nov. 21) before traveling Mexico for the Cancun Challenge. The two-game set will open with SE Louisiana on Nov. 24 followed by a game against either North Dakota or Detroit Mercy the following day.
After Thanksgiving the Bears travel to California to take on San Diego on Nov. 28 before returning home for the first two conference games of the season against Idaho (Dec. 3) and Eastern Washington (Dec. 5).
Non-conference schedule closes out with two games on the road. Starting with the third Power Five opponent in Stanford (Dec. 14) followed by the conclusion of the Cancun Classic against College of Charleston (Dec. 18) in South Carolina. The final non-conference game comes at home against Regis on Dec. 20.
The conference schedule leads the way through the rest of the season with eight home games during the new year. At home the Bears will face Idaho State (Jan. 14), Weber State (Jan. 16), Portland State (Jan. 25), Montana State (Feb. 4), Montana (Feb. 6), Utah Tech (Feb. 18), Southern Utah (Feb. 20), and Northern Arizona (Mar. 1).
The road Big Sky slate includes Montana (Dec. 31), Montana State (Jan. 2), Southern Utah (Jan. 7), Utah Tech (Jan. 9), Northern Arizona (Jan. 23), Eastern Washington (Jan. 28), Idaho (Jan. 30), Weber State (Feb. 11), Idaho State (Feb. 13), and Portland State (Feb. 27).
The Big Sky Tournament follows the regular season going from Mar. 5-10 in Boise, Idaho.
"I'm personally looking forward to playing several new opponents, including Arizona State, Stanford, College of Charleston, SE Louisiana, and many more teams that I've personally never had the opportunity to compete against," Smiley said. "The Big Sky will have a different feel as well, with the additions of Utah Tech and Southern Utah and the subtraction of Sacramento State. One thing I know is that our league will be extremely competitive again and will be a battle every night!"
FOLLOW THE BEARS: Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action at uncbears.com and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (@UNC_BearsMBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsMBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsMBB).
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