ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The conference slate for the Drake men's basketball team has been released by the Missouri Valley Conference, the league announced. Start times and television assignments will be announced at a later period.

The MVC schedule will feature 20 games with each team playing each other twice getting one home game and one away game each. Drake will open its conference season on Dec. 15 with a road contest at Evansville.

The Bulldogs head back to Des Moines for a pre-Christmas holiday matchup with Southern Illinois on Dec. 22 before ringing in the new year with its first two-game road trip taking on Indiana State, Dec. 29, and Murray State on New Years Day, Jan. 1.

The first two home games of 2027 will see the Bulldogs welcome Belmont to the Knapp Center on Jan. 5 followed by Valparaiso on Jan. 12. Drake's next three opponents will be the trio of Illinois institutions in the league: Bradley, Illinois State, and UIC. The Bulldogs will battle the Braves and Redbirds from Peoria and Normal on Jan. 16 and Jan. 18 and then make the trip back to Des Moines to host the Flames on Jan. 21.

Drake's first repeat opponent of the conference schedule will be Murray State with a home game on Jan. 24. The Bulldogs then close out the month of January traveling to the Music City, Nashville, Tennessee, for a date with Belmont, Jan. 27 and the first bout with in-state rival UNI from the Knapp Center on Jan. 30.

The beginning of February sees the Bulldogs head to Valparaiso on Feb. 3, followed by a home date with Evansville on Feb. 6, and then back on the road against Southern Illinois on Feb. 9.

Drake will play three of its final five contests from the Knapp Center starting with a two-game homestand versus Bradley and Indiana State, Feb. 12 and 18. The rematch against UNI from Cedar Falls comes next on Feb. 21. The home finale will be against Illinois State on Feb. 24 with the final conference game of the season taking place from Chicago against UIC on Feb. 28.

Arch Madness will be held at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo. from March 4-7.

2026-27 Drake Men's Basketball Conference Schedule
Dec. 15 – at Evansville – Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 22 – Southern Illinois – Des Moines
Dec. 29 – at Indiana State – Terre Haute, Ind.
Jan. 1 – at Murray State – Murray, Ky.
Jan. 5 – Belmont – Des Moines
Jan. 12 – Valparaiso – Des Moines
Jan. 16 – at Bradley – Peoria, Ill.
Jan. 18 – at Illinois State – Normal, Ill.
Jan. 21 – UIC – Des Moines
Jan. 24 – Murray State – Des Moines
Jan. 27 – at Belmont – Nashville, Tenn.
Jan. 30 – UNI – Des Moines
Feb. 3 – at Valparaiso – Valparaiso, Ind.
Feb. 6 – Evansville – Des Moines
Feb. 9 – at Southern Illinois – Carbondale, Ill.
Feb. 12 – Bradley – Des Moines
Feb. 18 – Indiana State – Des Moines
Feb. 21 – at UNI – Cedar Falls, Iowa
Feb. 24 – Illinois State – Des Moines
Feb. 28 – at UIC – Chicago, Ill.
 
2026-27 Season Ticket Information
Don't miss out on the action this season. Drake Men's Basketball season tickets are now available. Visit HERE to witness every game at the Knapp Center this season. Limited lower bowl seats remain.