Bradley's 2026-27 schedule

[JMM28]

Exhibition at SLU is October 23rd. That is the Friday night before Bids for the Braves on October 24th.

 

[yoda]

Yes, thanks - SLU Just released their non-conference schedule

They host Bradley for an exhibition Friday Oct. 23, no time noted

2026-27 schedule as we know so far-
- October 7, 2026, Wednesday - Itoo Spaghetti Supper - doors open 5:30pm, dinner 6pm
- October 23, 2026, Friday - Preseason Exhibition game at Saint Louis
- Home non-conference game vs Green Bay
- @ NIU
- @ Washington State ?
- November 28, 2026, Saturday - Home Game vs Chicago State
- December 4, 2026, Friday - @ North Texas
- 20-game MVC home-and-home schedule
- March 4-7, 2027 - 2027 MVC Tourney

 

[Da Coach]

I don't like to sound picky and I know that scheduling is tough, but this delay in announcing the games on this year's schedule is aggravating many fans.
What is keeping some details of the non-conference schedule from being released? If the complete schedule isn't locked in yet, then at least release info about the games and dates that are known.
We are now, less than 90 days from the start of the season, and we know virtually nothing about a single game on the schedule. And it seems the schedule gets announced later every year.
As I posted several months ago, fans need time to make plans if they are going to travel for a tournament or for non-conference games on the road. Also, people considering renewing season tickets or buying tickets for the 2026-27 season want to know what games are going to be on the schedule.

 

[yoda]

Only three MVC teams have released their full non-conference schedule, with one more having cited most of their non-conference games
(eight) but still have some left to reveal. I also checked, and all the top teams in the A-10 likewise haven't released their full non-conference schedule.

So I don't think it's just a local problem that only Bradley has. I think a lot of the better midmajors are having difficulty getting quality opponents locked in. The lousier mid-majors seem to have less problem as decent opponents don't seem to shy away from them so much.
I guess I'd rather be in the corner with the best teams than with the ones projected to be bottom dwellers.

 

[64NIT]

I don't like to sound picky and I know that scheduling is tough, but this delay in announcing the games on this year's schedule is aggravating many fans.
What is keeping some details of the non-conference schedule from being released? If the complete schedule isn't locked in yet, then at least release info about the games and dates that are known.
We are now, less than 90 days from the start of the season, and we know virtually nothing about a single game on the schedule. And it seems the schedule gets announced later every year.
As I posted several months ago, fans need time to make plans if they are going to travel for a tournament or for non-conference games on the road. Also, people considering renewing season tickets or buying tickets for the 2026-27 season want to know what games are going to be on the schedule.

It seems that the release of schedules has been a bit slow and has only picked up some in the past week or two. I would think that half of the schedules would have been released by now. (Obviously, JMO.)

Only 71 schools have released their schedules, according to D1Docket, as of my writing this post. This leaves 294 schools that haven't released their schedules. This number includes Bradley. I'm sure you're not the only one who is a bit frustrated. Eventually, most of these schools will release their schedules, with most by Labor Day, a month from now, and most of the remaining stragglers by early- to mid-October. I hope Bradley won't be among the stragglers.

 

[Da Coach]

It seems that the release of schedules has been a bit slow and has only picked up some in the past week or two. I would think that half of the schedules would have been released by now. (Obviously, JMO.)

Only 71 schools have released their schedules, according to D1Docket, as of my writing this post. This leaves 294 schools that haven't released their schedules. This number includes Bradley. I'm sure you're not the only one who is a bit frustrated. Eventually, most of these schools will release their schedules, with most by Labor Day, a month from now, and most of the remaining stragglers by early- to mid-October. I hope Bradley won't be among the stragglers.

Many of those that have not released their entire schedule have at least released info about some of their games, and info about what tournaments they will be playing in. I am not asking to have every last date on the schedule released. But holding back the info on dates that are known, makes little to no sense, IMO.

 

[yoda]

....I am not asking to have every last date on the schedule released. But holding back the info on dates that are known, makes little to no sense, IMO.

WARNING: incoming rant...

I have been saying this for years-- the people who run the SID office and take care of media and releases or FAN ENGAGEMENT need to do better. We have such GREAT Staff and players and a few others up there but their helpers are D3 level.
They don't answer phone calls or emails, they never get back to you if you have an issue, and I agree- that surely they know something about the schedule or the tourneys, yet they have said NOTHING!!! Heck, the only reason I know about the date for the ITOO Supper is because I know someone who works there and I called them at the ITOO Hall and asked them what the date was!!

The only way we know anything about the schedule is because WE HAVE BEEN DIGGING and found the info on the few games that are known.
The people up there in the Athletic Dept have released nothing. It's almost as if they want to tick off their long time, loyal fans and make it as hard on us as possible. They keep jacking the maintenance, they fail to be user-friendly for fans and ticketholders, they never hold open events or practices - and when they do hold some event - they exclude 90% of the fan base and hold it only for a few insiders or butt-kissers, then they post photos of those few having a great time with the players but nobody else was allowed.
If I am wrong about a single bit of this, please tell me. I have NOT renewed my season tickets yet - and am still waiting -- they've even stopped calling me to hound me about it.

 

[yoda]

Lehigh is in St. Louis to open the 2026-27 season vs the Billikens Nov. 2. But wouldn't it be great if they tried
to get an exhibition game at BU (Re: their star Hank Alvey is from this area) on the same road trip.
That would be awesome - just speculation but hope it gets done.

 

[Da Coach]

Chicago State released their 2026-27 non-conference schedule. They play 16 non-conference games, 14 of which are road games. Their 2 home non-conference games are against South Carolina State and Illinois State.
They play 6 games against Missouri valley opponents, including games at Bradley, UNI, Evansville, Murray State, and Valparaiso, al;ong with the home game against ISU. They also play 16 Northeast Conference (NEC) games.

www.x.com/ChiStateCougars/status/2087282928854159716



Chicago State begins it's first season of FCS level football this year. They will play this year as an independent, and join the NEC in 2027.
They will play their home football games at SeatGeek Stadium, a soccer specific stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Chicago State builds its inaugural Division I football program behind a whole lot of energy — and ambition

CHICAGO — Chicago State football players in green and white jerseys headed en masse toward the sideline of their turf practice field, which sits painted in the outfield of the Cougars baseball stadium. Their destination was Chicago State President Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, who was watching their...

sports.yahoo.com

Football Schedule- https://www.gocsucougars.com/sports/football/schedule/2026

 

[Dubl R 1]

Will we know BU's Non Con Schedule before the Valley releases the conference schedule?..lol

 

[Da Coach]

Thanks to some clues sent to me, here is information about the Multi-Team Event that will likely be on Bradley's schedule in November.
This is not 100% confirmed, as none of the four teams rumored to be involved are reporting this yet.
But it appears Bradley will be playing in a second-year event named The Showdown in St. Pete. As of now, it looks like it will be a 4 team event played at the McArthur Center Gymnasium on the campus of Eckerd College, a 4-year, Division II, college in St. Petersburg, Florida
The 4 teams are Bradley, George Mason, Florida A&M, and UMKC (under new head coach Mark Turgeon).
The games will be played November 11-14, 2026

Last year's (2025) inaugural Showdown in St. Pete had only 3 teams, and each team played two games. There was one game played on each of these 3 dates- Thursday, Nov. 13, Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15, with each team playing 2 games


With 4 teams (and possibly 6) this year, the event format will be different and probably allows for each of the teams (Bradley, George Mason, Florida A&M, and UMKC announced, so far) to play 3 games scheduled over the 4 days of the event (Wed. Nov. 11-Sat. Nov. 14).
There is a report (unverified) that Bradley will play a game against George Mason. (click on highlighted text for links)
And another report that UMKC will play games against Florida A&M and George Mason on Wed., Nov 11 and Thurs. Nov 12.
So in addition to George Mason, Bradley's will also likely play Florida A&M and/or UMKC. We are working to get more details.

Links-
The Showdown in St. Pete -


Last year's (2025) website- https://athleteadvantage.com/showdown-in-st-pete/
Eckerd College- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eckerd_College

Men's Basketball

The official Men's Basketball page for the Eckerd College Tritons

eckerdtritons.com

McArthur Center Gymnasium-

Location of Eckerd College- LINK

Note- none of this, including the matchups, is confirmed, so I recommend not making any plans or reservations yet.

 

[yoda]

Yes- I saw that Kansas City has already revealed info on their schedule and they say they do play in the Showdown in St. Pete.

Their release says: "...Showdown in St. Pete, a multi-team event in which the Roos will play Florida A&M and George Mason."
But- they make no mention of playing Bradley...

I have learned that right now Bradley plays on Nov 12 & 14 - 2 games, but that could still change
the Nov 12 game could be vs George Mason (GMU won 23 games last year and were one of the best A-10 teams) but
prob not- as UMKC lists their game vs GMU on the 12th

AND- there are 5 teams involved right now - more could be added. FAMU plays only one game, the other schools play 2 or 3.

2026-27 schedule as we know so far-
- October 7, 2026, Wednesday - Itoo Spaghetti Supper - doors open 5:30pm, dinner 6pm
- October 23, 2026, Friday - Preseason Exhibition game at Saint Louis
- November 11-14, 2026, 2 or 3 games vs George Mason, FAMU, or possibly another unnamed team but prob not Kansas City
- Home non-conference game vs Green Bay
- @ NIU
- @ Washington State ?
- November 28, 2026, Saturday - Home Game vs Chicago State
- December 4, 2026, Friday - @ North Texas
- 20-game MVC home-and-home schedule
- March 4-7, 2027 - 2027 MVC Tourney

 

[Da Coach]

One of the reasons information has been minimal about the 2026 Showdown in St. Pete is because the organizers reportedly were trying to expand the field to 6 teams.
The dates for the games listed in this recent Instagram post are Nov. 11-14, instead of the dates they listed in the graphic in the post above (Nov. 10-14).

https://www.instagram.com/showdowninstpete/#

 

[yoda]

There's still just about 100 DI teams that have released their full or nearly full non-conference schedule...
gotta be some good news right around the corner

 

[JMM28]

Coppin State and George Mason in the St Pete games. November 12 and 14th.

 

[yoda]

Good find
We play Coppin State on Thursday November 12 and George Mason on Saturday November 14.

Updated 2026-27 as we know it...

- October 7, 2026, Wednesday - Itoo Spaghetti Supper - doors open 5:30pm, dinner 6pm
- October 23, 2026, Friday - Preseason Exhibition game at Saint Louis
- November 12, 2026, Thursday - vs Coppin State in the Showdown in St. Pete- 6pm Eastern, 5pm Central
- November 14, 2026, Saturday - vs George Mason in the Showdown in St. Pete- 11am Eastern, 10am Central
- Home non-conference game vs Green Bay
- @ NIU
- @ Washington State ?
- November 28, 2026, Saturday - Home Game vs Chicago State
- December 4, 2026, Friday - @ North Texas
- 20-game MVC home-and-home schedule
- March 4-7, 2027 - 2027 MVC Tourney

 

[Da Coach]

One of the reasons information has been minimal about the 2026 Showdown in St. Pete is because the organizers reportedly were trying to expand the field...

The Showdown in St. Pete organizers have added Coppin State (from the MEAC) to the field, to go along with Bradley, George Mason, UMKC, and Florida A&M. As I noted above, I have heard they wanted to get a total of 6 teams, so will there be one more added?
Unfortunately, Coppin State doesn't improve the quality of the field. They were 5-24 last season with a NET of 363. Their RPI was 355, and had a non-conference strength of schedule that ranked 338th.
As of now, Bradley's 2-game schedule in the Showdown in St. Pete is set. Maybe Bradley will get another game or a different opponent out of this event? or possibly a home game arranged as payback for playing Coppin St.?

 

[64NIT]

I just googled Showdown at St. Pete. No information on this year's event is available. Last year's event was the first one and Coppin State was in the field, as well. There were two other teams in the field, Central Michigan and South Alabama.

 

[houstonbrave]

Try this website for info. https://www.showdowninstpete.com/schedule

 

[yoda]

More info, including times and team info now available
CLICK ON any image to expand it-
Also it appears games should be streamed on YouTube but links aren’t available currently and I do not know if subscription required




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