DALLAS - Conference USA unveiled its 2026-27 men's basketball schedule Thursday morning, officially setting the Aggies' 18-game conference slate as NM State prepares for its fourth season in the league.
With the departures of Louisiana Tech to the Sun Belt and UTEP to the Mountain West, Conference USA returns to a 10-member league for the 2026-27 season. The change also brings back the conference's traditional double round-robin format, with each school facing every league opponent both at home and on the road during the conference season.
The Aggies will once again open conference play before the calendar turns to the new year, welcoming FIU to the Pan American Center on Thursday, Dec. 31.
NM State will remain at home to begin 2027, hosting second-year CUSA member Missouri State on Saturday, Jan. 2, before embarking on its first road trip of the conference season with visits to Western Kentucky (Jan. 7) and Middle Tennessee (Jan. 9).
The Aggies return to Las Cruces for a pair of home contests against Jax State (Jan. 14) and defending Conference USA Tournament champion Kennesaw State (Jan. 16). NM State then hosts Sam Houston on Jan. 23, renewing the matchup between Head Coach Jason Hooten and the program he led for 13 seasons prior to arriving in Las Cruces. After meeting just once last season under the league's 20-game format, the Aggies and Bearkats return to playing twice this season.
The final road trip of January sends NM State east for contests at second-year member Delaware (Jan. 28) and Liberty (Jan. 30).
February begins with another two-game homestand as the Aggies welcome Middle Tennessee (Feb. 4) and Western Kentucky (Feb. 6) before traveling to face Kennesaw State (Feb. 11) and Jax State (Feb. 13).
After making the return trip to Sam Houston on Feb. 20, NM State closes the home portion of its conference schedule with games against Liberty (Feb. 25) and Delaware (Feb. 27).
The Aggies will finish the regular season on the road with visits to Missouri State on Wednesday, March 4, and FIU on Friday, March 6, marking the first time since the 2024-25 season that NM State concludes conference play away from the Pan American Center.
The 2027 Conference USA Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 9-13 at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama.
2026-27 NM State Conference USA Schedule
Thursday, Dec. 31 – FIU
Saturday, Jan. 2 – Missouri State
Thursday, Jan. 7 – at Western Kentucky
Saturday, Jan. 9 – at Middle Tennessee
Thursday, Jan. 14 – Jax State
Saturday, Jan. 16 – Kennesaw State
Saturday, Jan. 23 – Sam Houston
Thursday, Jan. 28 – at Delaware
Saturday, Jan. 30 – at Liberty
Thursday, Feb. 4 – Middle Tennessee
Saturday, Feb. 6 – Western Kentucky
Thursday, Feb. 11 – at Kennesaw State
Saturday, Feb. 13 – at Jax State
Saturday, Feb. 20 – at Sam Houston
Thursday, Feb. 25 – Liberty
Saturday, Feb. 27 – Delaware
Wednesday, March 4 – at Missouri State
Friday, March 6 – at FIU
Home games listed in bold.
For complete coverage of NM State men's basketball, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Men's Basketball), Twitter (@NMStateMBB) and Instagram (@NMStateMBB)
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