Skyhawk Men’s Hoops Announces Non-Conference Schedule
9/28/2026 9:02:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MARTIN, Tenn. – The 2026-27 University of Tennessee at Martin men's basketball schedule has been finalized with the addition of 18 nonconference outings, head coach Jeremy Shulman announced today.
The 18 contests include a pair of exhibitions and 16 regular season games with at least four first-time opponents (East Carolina/Utah Valley in the second round of the Paradise Jam, South Carolina, Penn State and Davidson) on the docket. Excluding the pair of exhibitions, the Skyhawks will play teams from 12 different conferences this season. Adding in the 16-game Ohio Valley Conference slate, UT Martin will battle against at least 16 teams who finished above .500 last season – including at least eight contests against 20-win squads from a year ago.
The Skyhawks will travel to Northern Kentucky on Oct. 14 for an exhibition against a Norse program that went 20-14 last season. UT Martin will then host Central Arkansas – a 22-win squad from last season who is coached by Jeremy Shulman's uncle John – at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center on Oct. 18.
Year Three of the Shulman Era officially starts on Nov. 2 as the Skyhawks head to New Orleans, La. for a matchup at Tulane. UT Martin then heads to IU Indy on Nov. 7, playing the Jaguars for the first time since Nov. 25, 1978. A season-opening three-game road swing concludes with a 140-mile trip to Arkansas State on Nov. 10.
The 2026-27 home opener is set for Nov. 13 as Champion Christian will visit the Elam Center for the fifth consecutive season. Two days later, the Skyhawks then turn around and battle Ecclesia for the second time in four seasons.
The previously announced 27th Annual Paradise Jam is next on the calendar as UT Martin opens its tournament in the US Virgin Islands against Southern Illinois on Nov. 20. Following the aforementioned East Carolina/Utah Valley matchup on either Nov. 21-22, the Skyhawks will face either Indiana State, Middle Tennessee, Stephen F. Austin or Temple on Nov. 23.
A home matchup against Kentucky Christian follows on Nov. 28 as UT Martin hosts the Knights for the third straight year.
The month of December begins with three consecutive road outings as the Skyhawks head to former OVC rival Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 2), South Carolina (Dec. 6) and former Gulf South Conference foe North Alabama (Dec. 9).
UT Martin hosts Northwestern State on Dec. 14, facing the Demons for the first time since the 2015 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The Skyhawks then head to Penn State two days later before a Dec. 19 home matchup against Champion Christian wraps up a busy three-game-in-six-day stretch.
The nonconference slate concludes with a Dec. 22 matchup at Davidson, a 2026 National Invitation Tournament participant.
UT Martin's 16-game OVC schedule, which was unveiled on Aug. 7, runs from Dec. 30 through Feb. 25 with eight home-and-home series. The Skyhawks are set for home matchups against Morehead State (Dec. 30), Southeast Missouri (Jan. 7), Southern Indiana (Jan. 9), SIUE (Jan. 28), Western Illinois (Feb. 4), Lindenwood (Feb. 6), Eastern Illinois (Feb. 13) and Tennessee State (Feb. 25) before the 2027 OVC Championships are set for March 3-6 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
The 18 contests include a pair of exhibitions and 16 regular season games with at least four first-time opponents (East Carolina/Utah Valley in the second round of the Paradise Jam, South Carolina, Penn State and Davidson) on the docket. Excluding the pair of exhibitions, the Skyhawks will play teams from 12 different conferences this season. Adding in the 16-game Ohio Valley Conference slate, UT Martin will battle against at least 16 teams who finished above .500 last season – including at least eight contests against 20-win squads from a year ago.
The Skyhawks will travel to Northern Kentucky on Oct. 14 for an exhibition against a Norse program that went 20-14 last season. UT Martin will then host Central Arkansas – a 22-win squad from last season who is coached by Jeremy Shulman's uncle John – at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center on Oct. 18.
Year Three of the Shulman Era officially starts on Nov. 2 as the Skyhawks head to New Orleans, La. for a matchup at Tulane. UT Martin then heads to IU Indy on Nov. 7, playing the Jaguars for the first time since Nov. 25, 1978. A season-opening three-game road swing concludes with a 140-mile trip to Arkansas State on Nov. 10.
The 2026-27 home opener is set for Nov. 13 as Champion Christian will visit the Elam Center for the fifth consecutive season. Two days later, the Skyhawks then turn around and battle Ecclesia for the second time in four seasons.
The previously announced 27th Annual Paradise Jam is next on the calendar as UT Martin opens its tournament in the US Virgin Islands against Southern Illinois on Nov. 20. Following the aforementioned East Carolina/Utah Valley matchup on either Nov. 21-22, the Skyhawks will face either Indiana State, Middle Tennessee, Stephen F. Austin or Temple on Nov. 23.
A home matchup against Kentucky Christian follows on Nov. 28 as UT Martin hosts the Knights for the third straight year.
The month of December begins with three consecutive road outings as the Skyhawks head to former OVC rival Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 2), South Carolina (Dec. 6) and former Gulf South Conference foe North Alabama (Dec. 9).
UT Martin hosts Northwestern State on Dec. 14, facing the Demons for the first time since the 2015 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The Skyhawks then head to Penn State two days later before a Dec. 19 home matchup against Champion Christian wraps up a busy three-game-in-six-day stretch.
The nonconference slate concludes with a Dec. 22 matchup at Davidson, a 2026 National Invitation Tournament participant.
UT Martin's 16-game OVC schedule, which was unveiled on Aug. 7, runs from Dec. 30 through Feb. 25 with eight home-and-home series. The Skyhawks are set for home matchups against Morehead State (Dec. 30), Southeast Missouri (Jan. 7), Southern Indiana (Jan. 9), SIUE (Jan. 28), Western Illinois (Feb. 4), Lindenwood (Feb. 6), Eastern Illinois (Feb. 13) and Tennessee State (Feb. 25) before the 2027 OVC Championships are set for March 3-6 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
Tuesday, March 10
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