CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced its men’s basketball national television schedule for the 2026-27 season today. The extensive package features coverage of MAC basketball contests that will be televised nationally on the following linear platforms – ESPN2, ESPNU & CBS Sports Network.

The MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament First Round on Wednesday, March 10th and Quarterfinals on Thursday, March 11th will be available on ESPN+.

For the 11th consecutive year, the MAC Men’s Basketball Semifinals will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network, while the Men’s Basketball Championship game will air live on Saturday, March 13 on ESPN2 (Time TBA).

CBS Sports Network
Saturday, Jan. 2 – Eastern Michigan @ Miami, 2 pm ET
Friday, Jan. 8 – Buffalo @ Toledo, 7 pm ET
Friday, Jan. 15– Akron @ Toledo, 8 pm ET
Friday, Jan. 22 – Kent State @ Bowling Green, 7 pm ET
Friday, Jan. 29 – Miami @ Ohio, 7 pm ET
Friday, Feb. 12 – 21-day wildcard selection, 5 pm ET; / 21 –day wildcard selection, 7 pm ET
Friday, Feb. 19 – 21-day wildcard selection, 7 pm ET
Friday, Feb. 26 – 21 –day wildcard selection, 7 pm ET
Friday, March 5 – 21-day wildcard selection, 7 pm ET
Friday, March 12 - MAC Tournament Men’s Semifinals, 5 pm ET / 7:30 pm ET

ESPN
Friday, Jan. 8 - Miami @ Akron, 7 pm ET (ESPN2)
Saturday, Jan. 16 – Miami @ Kent State, 6 pm ET (ESPNU)
Friday, Jan. 22 – Akron @ Miami, 8 pm ET (ESPNU)
Saturday, Feb. 6 - 21-day wildcard selection, 6 pm ET (ESPN2)
Friday, Feb. 26 -- 21-day wildcard selection, 8 pm ET (ESPNU)
Friday, March 5 – 21- day wildcard selection, 9 pm ET (ESPN2)
Wednesday, March 10 -- MAC Tournament First Round (ESPN+)
Thursday, March 11 – MAC Tournament Men’s Quarterfinals (ESPN+)

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2026/10/...edule.aspx

Can't wait to see those Friday night games. We have our Big West games on Thursdays and Saturdays!

It might be worth pointing out that February 6th ESPN2 game is the 2nd leg of the SB-MAC challenge.

(10-14-2026 08:04 PM)SactoHornetAlum Wrote:  Can't wait to see those Friday night games. We have our Big West games on Thursdays and Saturdays!

Not sure how night those games will be for you. For the 9-5 west coasters the games might be a decent chunk of the way over by the time they make it home from work and get situated at the TV.

(10-14-2026 09:12 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(10-14-2026 08:04 PM)SactoHornetAlum Wrote:  Can't wait to see those Friday night games. We have our Big West games on Thursdays and Saturdays!

Not sure how night those games will be for you. For the 9-5 west coasters the games might be a decent chunk of the way over by the time they make it home from work and get situated at the TV.

That's what the DVR is for...or the ESPN app

Underwhelming to say the least... But I don't hate Friday night games - just wish they were put on ESPN/ESPN2 instead of ESPNU/CBSSports

(10-15-2026 11:35 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Underwhelming to say the least... But I don't hate Friday night games - just wish they were put on ESPN/ESPN2 instead of ESPNU/CBSSports

Last season they moved at least 2 games from ESPNU/Plus to ESPN or ESPN2 that I remember. Granted, this was during the height of media exposure from Miami's undefeated run, but when Disney thinks they'll get higher ratings for a game, they bump it up to their main channels.

We sold our souls to ESPN for a grand total of SIX nationally televised games amongst all of the MAC... and half of those are buried on ESPNU.

We've watched our fan bases get slowly gutted ever since signing that deal.

What a spectacular return on investment. SMH.

How does Akron-Kent State, UT-BG, or OU-Miami(OH) not get a slot on ESPN/ESPN2? Those are games that will draw good ratings and look good for the conference with likely sellouts.

(10-15-2026 11:50 AM)ProfessorBooty Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 11:35 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Underwhelming to say the least... But I don't hate Friday night games - just wish they were put on ESPN/ESPN2 instead of ESPNU/CBSSports

Last season they moved at least 2 games from ESPNU/Plus to ESPN or ESPN2 that I remember. Granted, this was during the height of media exposure from Miami's undefeated run, but when Disney thinks they'll get higher ratings for a game, they bump it up to their main channels.

Yes, I did notice that, and it was the right thing to do - Miami was a good story. Unless we have another undefeated team, I doubt ESPN does **** for the MAC to get them on ESPN/ESPN2 this year. Walk by any sports bar and no one is playing ESPNU or CBSSports games on TV because no one has those channels, or never puts those channels on unless requested. The only people watching the games on ESPNU or CBSSports are locals/alums. Games on these channels do very little to help to grow the MAC's brand. At least they are better than putting them on ESPN+.

I think the MAC offers a lot more in terms of basketball support (from fans) and competiveness then peer conferences like the SBC, C-USA, and MWC. I would say MAC basketball rivals the MVC, A-10 & PAC 12 more then any of the other non-power 4/5 conferences.

(10-16-2026 09:32 AM)astr083 Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 11:50 AM)ProfessorBooty Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 11:35 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Underwhelming to say the least... But I don't hate Friday night games - just wish they were put on ESPN/ESPN2 instead of ESPNU/CBSSports

Last season they moved at least 2 games from ESPNU/Plus to ESPN or ESPN2 that I remember. Granted, this was during the height of media exposure from Miami's undefeated run, but when Disney thinks they'll get higher ratings for a game, they bump it up to their main channels.

Yes, I did notice that, and it was the right thing to do - Miami was a good story. Unless we have another undefeated team, I doubt ESPN does **** for the MAC to get them on ESPN/ESPN2 this year. Walk by any sports bar and no one is playing ESPNU or CBSSports games on TV because no one has those channels, or never puts those channels on unless requested. The only people watching the games on ESPNU or CBSSports are locals/alums. Games on these channels do very little to help to grow the MAC's brand. At least they are better than putting them on ESPN+.

I think the MAC offers a lot more in terms of basketball support (from fans) and competiveness then peer conferences like the SBC, C-USA, and MWC. I would say MAC basketball rivals the MVC, A-10 & PAC 12 more then any of the other non-power 4/5 conferences.

I would not expect to see a regular season MAC game on in an Atlanta airport bar. I'm not sure what a sports bar tells us.

MAC hoops is largely confined to the Midwest + Mass.

Basically geared toward those who have a rooting interest.

(10-16-2026 09:58 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(10-16-2026 09:32 AM)astr083 Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 11:50 AM)ProfessorBooty Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 11:35 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Underwhelming to say the least... But I don't hate Friday night games - just wish they were put on ESPN/ESPN2 instead of ESPNU/CBSSports

Last season they moved at least 2 games from ESPNU/Plus to ESPN or ESPN2 that I remember. Granted, this was during the height of media exposure from Miami's undefeated run, but when Disney thinks they'll get higher ratings for a game, they bump it up to their main channels.

Yes, I did notice that, and it was the right thing to do - Miami was a good story. Unless we have another undefeated team, I doubt ESPN does **** for the MAC to get them on ESPN/ESPN2 this year. Walk by any sports bar and no one is playing ESPNU or CBSSports games on TV because no one has those channels, or never puts those channels on unless requested. The only people watching the games on ESPNU or CBSSports are locals/alums. Games on these channels do very little to help to grow the MAC's brand. At least they are better than putting them on ESPN+.

I think the MAC offers a lot more in terms of basketball support (from fans) and competiveness then peer conferences like the SBC, C-USA, and MWC. I would say MAC basketball rivals the MVC, A-10 & PAC 12 more then any of the other non-power 4/5 conferences.

I would not expect to see a regular season MAC game on in an Atlanta airport bar. I'm not sure what a sports bar tells us.

MAC hoops is largely confined to the Midwest + Mass.

Basically geared toward those who have a rooting interest.

I said nothing about an airport bar, but I do expect the MAC to get as much exposure in Atlanta on ESPN/ESPN2 as the A-10, MVC, or PAC 12, which are also not regional to the South, but seem to receive more exposure due to better TV contracts. Smh.

(10-16-2026 09:23 AM)astr083 Wrote:  How does Akron-Kent State, UT-BG, or OU-Miami(OH) not get a slot on ESPN/ESPN2? Those are games that will draw good ratings and look good for the conference with likely sellouts.

Akron-Kent play on March 5th, which is an ESPN2 game date. Very decent chance it gets picked up.

Akron has an additional 3 games on the ESPN family of networks as part of its MTE.

11/23 vs Wright St. 1:30PM ESPNU
11/24 vs Belmont 12:30PM ESPN2
11/25 vs Appalachian St. 3PM ESPNU

(10-16-2026 10:22 AM)astr083 Wrote:  

(10-16-2026 09:58 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(10-16-2026 09:32 AM)astr083 Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 11:50 AM)ProfessorBooty Wrote:  

(10-15-2026 11:35 AM)astr083 Wrote:  Underwhelming to say the least... But I don't hate Friday night games - just wish they were put on ESPN/ESPN2 instead of ESPNU/CBSSports

Last season they moved at least 2 games from ESPNU/Plus to ESPN or ESPN2 that I remember. Granted, this was during the height of media exposure from Miami's undefeated run, but when Disney thinks they'll get higher ratings for a game, they bump it up to their main channels.

Yes, I did notice that, and it was the right thing to do - Miami was a good story. Unless we have another undefeated team, I doubt ESPN does **** for the MAC to get them on ESPN/ESPN2 this year. Walk by any sports bar and no one is playing ESPNU or CBSSports games on TV because no one has those channels, or never puts those channels on unless requested. The only people watching the games on ESPNU or CBSSports are locals/alums. Games on these channels do very little to help to grow the MAC's brand. At least they are better than putting them on ESPN+.

I think the MAC offers a lot more in terms of basketball support (from fans) and competiveness then peer conferences like the SBC, C-USA, and MWC. I would say MAC basketball rivals the MVC, A-10 & PAC 12 more then any of the other non-power 4/5 conferences.

I would not expect to see a regular season MAC game on in an Atlanta airport bar. I'm not sure what a sports bar tells us.

MAC hoops is largely confined to the Midwest + Mass.

Basically geared toward those who have a rooting interest.

I said nothing about an airport bar, but I do expect the MAC to get as much exposure in Atlanta on ESPN/ESPN2 as the A-10, MVC, or PAC 12, which are also not regional to the South, but seem to receive more exposure due to better TV contracts. Smh.

But I watched the Miami-OhioU game at the Atlanta airport last February. Haha
I fussed around with an amex card to get to the Centurion Lounge in time for the game, but it was a late tip, and the lounge was closing early for some reason. I think they were doing some construction. So I got some Bojangles, and then had a beer at the bar, and since it was on espn, I got to watch "the battle of the bricks" in Atlanta of all places. Haha
That said, of the random guys who were sitting at the bar around me, none seemed to have much interest. One of the guys assumed it was Miami Fl, but we chatted a bit, and he was impressed to learn we were undefeated at that point. Told me he remembered Big Ben from Miami, so that was cool.