DES MOINES, Iowa — The Drake men's basketball program has announced the non-conference schedule for the 2025-26 season.

The schedule features seven home contests from the Knapp Center, one road game, and one exhibition on the road against Wichita State on Oct. 11.

Drake begins its regular season campaign in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Nov. 3 against Northern Arizona as part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. The home opener for the Bulldogs will be on Nov. 6 versus Robert Morris. The Colonials went 26-9 last season sweeping the Horizon League regular season and tournament championships en route to an NCAA Tournament birth. Next up for the Bulldogs are two more games in Des Moines facing Simpson (Nov. 10) and SIUE (Nov. 14), another NCAA Tournament participant from last season with a 22-12 record. 

The one true road game for Drake's non-conference schedule will be from Charleston, South Carolina to take on the College of Charleston Cougars on Nov. 17.

The Bulldogs will have one more home game versus Buena Vista on Nov. 21 before they head down to the Sunshine State for the Emerald Coast Classic from Destin, Florida, Nov. 28-29. Drake will take on Southeastern Conference foe LSU in its first game of the Emerald Coast Classic and then will matchup against either Atlantic Coast Conference member Georgia Tech or Big East member DePaul to close out the Mixed Team Event.

As the calendar turns to December, Drake will play three more non-conference games to complete that portion of the schedule. The Bulldogs will welcome Western Illinois on Dec. 2 and UAB on Dec. 5. The Blazers won 24 games last season and made a run to the American Athletic Conference Tournament title game as well as a trip to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament. The non-conference finale will be on Dec. 13 versus North Dakota State.

Times and television assignments will be announced later.

2025-26 Drake Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Oct. 11 – at Wichita State (Exhibition) – Wichita, Kan.
Nov. 3 – vs. Northern Arizona – Sioux Falls, S.D.
Nov. 6 – Robert Morris – Des Moines, Iowa
Nov. 10 – Simpson – Des Moines, Iowa
Nov. 14 – SIUE – Des Moines, Iowa
Nov. 17 – at Charleston – Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 21 – Buena Vista – Des Moines, Iowa
Nov. 28-29 – Emerald Coast Classic – Destin, Fla.
Dec. 2 – Western Illinois – Des Moines, Iowa
Dec. 5 – UAB – Des Moines, Iowa
Dec. 13 – North Dakota State – Des Moines, Iowa
 
2025-26 Season Ticket Information:
-New season tickets are on sale now. Tickets for the 2025-26 season can be purchased here.
-Single-game tickets through the athletics department will offer a variety of single-game ticket promotions. Detailed information will be shared prior to the start of the season.