University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
MAC-SBC Challenge in Basketball Extended Through 2028-29 Season
6/24/2026 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – The MAC-SBC Challenge – a scheduling alliance between the Mid-American Conference and Sun Belt Conference in men's and women's basketball – has been extended two additional years through the 2028-29 season in a joint announcement by the two leagues Wednesday afternoon.
Twelve MAC men's and women's basketball teams will face off against 12 Sun Belt teams in a pair of contests in 2027-28 and 2028-29 with each game being carried on an ESPN platform.
The MAC-SBC Challenge began during the 2023-24 season at the recommendation of the Sun Belt's strategic planning committees for men's and women's basketball. Scheduling assistance will continue to be provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests will be considered in determining the matchups.
"Over its three-year history, the MAC-SBC Challenge has annually produced many of the best non-conference matchups for our men's and women's basketball teams," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. "We are thrilled to continue this scheduling alliance with the Mid-American Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to these compelling NET-driven matchups against peer institutions."
"The MAC-SBC Challenge has proven to be a tremendous opportunity for our men's and women's basketball programs to compete against quality opponents while providing meaningful exposure," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. "We are pleased to extend this partnership with the Sun Belt Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to continuing a series that benefits our student-athletes, institutions and fans through highly competitive, nationally visible matchups."
In 2025-26, the Sun Belt's men's programs remained undefeated in the MAC-SBC Challenge, earning the league's second title in the event's three seasons following a tie in 2024-25. After winning 14 of 26 games in last year's Challenge, the Sun Belt's men's teams improved their combined record to 41-33 (.554) overall after producing a 15-9 mark during the first edition of event in 2023-24.
On the women's side, the Sun Belt and MAC each earned 13 victories during the 2025-26 season. The Sun Belt won the inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge, 14-10, before the MAC claimed the crown in the subsequent season.
The first round of the 2026-27 MAC-SBC Challenge will tip off on the opening night of the regular season Monday, Nov. 2, with the Sun Belt men's teams hosting the MAC, while the MAC women's teams host the Sun Belt. The Sun Belt women will host the MAC, and the MAC men will host the Sun Belt, in the second round on Saturday, February 6.
2026-27
Nov. 2 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 2 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 6 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 6 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
2027-28
Nov. 8 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Nov. 8 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
Feb. 5 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Feb. 5 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
2028-29
Nov. 6 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 6 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 3 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 3 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
Twelve MAC men's and women's basketball teams will face off against 12 Sun Belt teams in a pair of contests in 2027-28 and 2028-29 with each game being carried on an ESPN platform.
The MAC-SBC Challenge began during the 2023-24 season at the recommendation of the Sun Belt's strategic planning committees for men's and women's basketball. Scheduling assistance will continue to be provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests will be considered in determining the matchups.
"Over its three-year history, the MAC-SBC Challenge has annually produced many of the best non-conference matchups for our men's and women's basketball teams," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. "We are thrilled to continue this scheduling alliance with the Mid-American Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to these compelling NET-driven matchups against peer institutions."
"The MAC-SBC Challenge has proven to be a tremendous opportunity for our men's and women's basketball programs to compete against quality opponents while providing meaningful exposure," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. "We are pleased to extend this partnership with the Sun Belt Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to continuing a series that benefits our student-athletes, institutions and fans through highly competitive, nationally visible matchups."
In 2025-26, the Sun Belt's men's programs remained undefeated in the MAC-SBC Challenge, earning the league's second title in the event's three seasons following a tie in 2024-25. After winning 14 of 26 games in last year's Challenge, the Sun Belt's men's teams improved their combined record to 41-33 (.554) overall after producing a 15-9 mark during the first edition of event in 2023-24.
On the women's side, the Sun Belt and MAC each earned 13 victories during the 2025-26 season. The Sun Belt won the inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge, 14-10, before the MAC claimed the crown in the subsequent season.
The first round of the 2026-27 MAC-SBC Challenge will tip off on the opening night of the regular season Monday, Nov. 2, with the Sun Belt men's teams hosting the MAC, while the MAC women's teams host the Sun Belt. The Sun Belt women will host the MAC, and the MAC men will host the Sun Belt, in the second round on Saturday, February 6.
2026-27
Nov. 2 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 2 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 6 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 6 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
2027-28
Nov. 8 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Nov. 8 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
Feb. 5 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Feb. 5 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
2028-29
Nov. 6 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 6 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 3 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 3 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
Sunday, February 22
Friday, February 20
Friday, February 20
Friday, February 13
