MOBILE, Ala. – The Sun Belt Conference announced the matchups for the 2026 MAC-SBC Challenge Thursday afternoon, with South Alabama men's basketball set to host Ohio at the Mitchell Center on Monday, Nov. 2.
Now entering its fourth year, the MAC-SBC Challenge is a men's basketball scheduling alliance between the Mid-American Conference and the Sun Belt Conference. The 2026 edition features 12 matchups between the two leagues, with each team guaranteed one home and one away contest as part of the series. Initial pairings are determined based on projected NET rankings for the upcoming season.
South Alabama enters the 2026-27 season following back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the first time since 2009 and the program's first National Invitation Tournament appearance since 2007. The Jaguars return several key contributors, including Stephen Williams and Peyton Law, while adding an experienced and talented group of newcomers.
Ohio is coming off a 15-17 campaign that included a 9-9 record in Mid-American Conference play. The Bobcats earned the No. 6 seed in the MAC Tournament before falling to No. 3 seed Kent State in the quarterfinals. Ohio is led by head coach Jeff Boals, who enters his ninth season at his alma mater after guiding the Bobcats to the 2021 MAC Tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament victory over defending national champion Virginia.
The Nov. 2 matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between South Alabama and Ohio.
South Alabama enters the 2026 MAC-SBC Challenge with a 4-2 record in the event. The Jaguars went 3-0 against Mid-American Conference opponents during the 2025-26 season, earning victories over Toledo (76-74), Central Michigan (66-64) and Buffalo (81-69). South Alabama is 9-6 all-time against current Mid-American Conference members.
All MAC-SBC Challenge matchups will be broadcast on ESPN platforms.
MAC-SBC Challenge Men's Basketball Matchups
Toledo at Arkansas State
Eastern Michigan at Coastal Carolina
Ball State at Georgia Southern
Bowling Green at Georgia State
Miami (Ohio) at James Madison
Akron at Louisiana
Central Michigan at ULM
Kent State at Louisiana Tech
Buffalo at Marshall
Western Michigan at Old Dominion
Ohio at South Alabama
UMass at Troy
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