Nov. 3 is finally here.
We’ve all been waiting for Opening Night of the 2025-26 college basketball season, and it’s finally here.
Five teams are slated to tip off their season on Monday night.
When it comes to preview articles, we will focus on the games against Division I opponents. For those who say we are hating, well, you are entitled to your opinion.
Non-Division I games are not factored into the NET or KenPom rankings and have no bearing on the outcome, so they will be mentioned but not previewed in these articles.
Here are the three games that will be the focus of Opening Night.
Tarleton State at SMU
Tip - 7 p.m. CT
Broadcast - ACC Extra
Radio - https://tarletonsports.com/watch/?Live=2485&type=Live
Line: SMU -20
O/U: 143
It’s opening night and, as usual, the Texans open up with a Power Conference opponent in ACC foe SMU.
Here is what we know about the Texans…very little.
What we do know is that Freddy Hicks returns, at least for two weeks. Dior Johnson and Cam McDowell could match up pretty well on the guard line against the Mustangs, and that was the case in last year’s season opener at SMU, where the Mustangs ran to a 34-point blowout win.
In that ball game, Tarleton State committed 23 turnovers, got off to an awful start in the first half, shooting just 27 percent from the floor, and allowed the Mustangs to hit 11 3-pointers in the contest.
Boopie Miller and B.J. Edwards combined for 34 points in last year’s win for the Mustangs, and both of the Mustang guards are back in 2025-26.
Freddy Hicks didn’t play in the season opener a year ago in Dallas.
Keep an eye on the paint. SMU has five players 6’9 or taller, while Tarleton State has just two in Matyas Vrabel and Andy Sigiscar, neither of whom has any experience at the Division I level.
Here is something to consider…in the past two season openers at Virginia and at SMU, Tarleton State has lost by 30 and 34 points, respectively. With a bunch of new faces, will the season opener in 2025-26 be any different?
Utah Tech at South Dakota
Tip - 6:30 p.m. MT
Broadcast - Summit League Network
Radio - The Fan Sports Network
Line: South Dakota -2.5
Over/Under: 161.5
When I asked Utah Tech what the scouting report was for the Coyotes, it was a simple three-word answer.
“Handle the pressure.”
That’s it. That’s the preview.
Okay, perhaps not.
This is a return game for the Trailblazers in a home-and-home series with South Dakota. Utah Tech won the first-ever meeting between the two teams 92-87 last year at Burns Arena.
The Trailblazers hit 13 3-pointers in the win, led by Noa Gonsalves with 22 points and Beon Riley with 21 points.
Tobi Ariyibi and Madiba Owona, a pair of returners for Jon Judkins, each had 11 points in the win.
There isn’t much to write about either of these two teams. Both have a lot of new faces. Both have some returners, but there are so many questions.
Keep an eye on Madiba Owona.
If Utah Tech’s dynamic sophomore guard has refined his game during the offseason, Utah Tech could get off to a good start in 2025-26.
This game could be high-scoring since both teams like to shoot the 3-ball. South Dakota has a bit of a size advantage, as Utah Tech doesn’t have a player taller than 6’8.
USC-Upstate at California Baptist
Tip - 7:30 p.m. PT
Broadcast - ESPN+
Radio - None
Line: None - so far
How will the WAC Preseason favorites come out to open the 2025-26 season?
There is a lot of hype in Riverside.
The Lancers boast the WAC Preseason Player of the Year in Dominique Daniels Jr.
The 5’10 guard has averaged over 19 points per game for the Lancers in two seasons in Riverside.
Martel Williams returns as Daniels’ running mate on the guard line.
Grad transfer Jayden Jackson comes over from Northern Arizona, and Oregon State transfer Thomas Ndong leads a deep group of bigs for the Lancers.
USC-Upstate has to travel across the country to open its 2025-26 campaign. The Spartans finished 6-26 overall and 2-14 in Big South play in 2024-25.
Perhaps there isn’t a line because this will be similar to playing a non-Division I opponent. At least, for the Lancers, it should be.
However, the last two season openers against Division I competition for the Lancers have been a bag of mixed results.
CBU held off Incarnate Word 83-78 at Fowler Events Center to open the 2024-25 season.
In 2023-24, the Lancers trailed Jackson State 39-34 at halftime before outscoring the Tigers 46-27 after the break en route to the 80-66 win.
There has been a lot of talent over the years in Riverside.
Can the Lancers get off on the right foot with all the hype surrounding them in 2025-26?
They should. But it’s why we love sports. Games aren’t won on paper.
Other games featuring WAC teams on Opening Night:
UNT Dallas at UT Arlington
7 p.m. CT
ESPN+
McMurry at Abilene Christian
8 p.m. CT
ESPN+