Northern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball team will open its 2026-2027 season as part of a special day-long college basketball marathon.
NKU will play Texas-El Paso (UTEP) in a 24-hour marathon showcase sponsored by the Field of 68. Tipoff is 2 p.m. ET in Sioux Falls, S.D.
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NKU will be one of 16 mid-major programs playing in the event that day during the opening day of the college basketball season. The games will be in Sioux Falls and Rock Hill, S.C., and will stream on the Field of 68 YouTube channel and on X.
NKU head coach Darrin Horn watches his players during Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball practice July 21, 2026, at Truist Arena.
The format revives a 24-hour marathon of games that ESPN ran until 2017.
UTEP, a member of Conference USA, was 11-20 last season. The game will start a tough opening week for the Norse. After leaving South Dakota, they will travel to face two teams that reached the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, playing Texas A&M Nov. 6 and Saint Louis Nov. 10. Both of those games have been announced by the host school as part of their non-conference schedules.
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Texas A&M finished 22-12 and was fourth place in the SEC. SLU was 29-6 and won the Atlantic 10.
NKU, 20-14 last season, has not released the rest of its nonconference schedule and the Horizon League has not released its league slate. The Horizon League has expanded to 12 teams this season with the addition of Northern Illinois, who will also be in the Field of 68 marathon.
Field of 68 marathon schedule
12:01 a.m.: High Point vs. Liberty (Rock Hill)
3 a.m.: Grambling vs. Northern Illinois (Rock Hill)
6 a.m.: Appalachian State vs. Merrimack (Rock Hill)
9 a.m.: Winthrop vs. Queens (Rock Hill)
11:30 a.m.: Murray State vs. Tennessee State (Sioux Falls)
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2 p.m.: UTEP vs. Northern Kentucky (Sioux Falls)
5:30 p.m.: UAB vs. McNeese State (Rock Hill)
8 p.m.: Furman vs. Bethune-Cookman (Rock Hill)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: NKU basketball opens season in revived 24-hour basketball marathon
