We haven’t heard much about Miami for next year, but this was posted on the MAC board about a few of the better MAC programs.
Ohio will be in a Thanksgiving tournament called the Thanksgiving Sunshine Slam Bowl with George Mason, FAU, and LMU. Akron will be in the Virgin Islands Classic. First game vs Iona, then either Oregon State or Green Bay. UMass so far has 5 home games, 5 neutral games, and one away game.
When does Miami typically release its MBB schedule?
Last year it came out in early September. There were a couple of early announcements for the Florida tournament prior to full schedule release.
A lot of the MTE (multi-team events) played in November and early December look to be mostly filled at this time but I am sure there are other out there that are still looking to lock in their teams–maybe Miami is one of those teams again. 2025-26 Men’s College Basketball Exempt Multi-Team Event (MTE) Tracker - Yahoo Sports
There have been some rumors of a couple of " brand name" OOC road games that are being worked on. I was told one was an ACC school and the other potentially a Big 12 (not UC) school. We do have an away game at Air Force as that was a Home/Home contract.
Looks like we are hosting Old Dominion to kick-off the season in the MAC/SBC Challenge. This is surprising as Old Dominion was in the bottom half of last year’s NET Rankings in the SBC. I thought we were supposed to play a comparable team?
I think the second game, the TBD game, is where they match teams based on performance
I’m with you, ‘24’ I thought Miami would play one of the top SBC teams from last season; I know they played Troy last season, but Ark. State (NET 94 - especially since both Akron and Kent played them last season) seems like they would have been the most likely opponent.
This kind of defeats the purpose, to me.
As a program, Old Dominion is usually pretty good. But OD was NET 293 last season, which is twice what Miami was at NET 147.
MAC did not do Miami any scheduling favors, which is a puzzle because one would guess the MAC was as ticked about how last season ended (NIT) as many other folks. Making sure Miami had a strong opener seems like a no-brainer, especially at home.
By comparison, Kent (NET 128) plays Troy (NET 99) which is much more comparable. South Alabama (NET 123) would have been more comparable for Miami as well, even Marshall (NET 177) would have been better too, not to mention the renewal of an old rivalry.
From the news release on the original MAC SBC challenge:
The November games will be determined based on projected NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) rankings heading into the season. The second game in February will be set based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January.
Miami is 107 (2nd in MAC) and ODU 173 (4th in SBC), so maybe the SBC is projected to be down, or there are other considerations. Troy is 3rd and I’d guess they didn’t want a repeat matchup there.
The November games will be determined based on projected NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) rankings heading into the season.
So the MAC is either saying it expects OD to be a powerhouse, or, it expects Miami to stink. Can’t have it both ways. And while I agree the MAC/SBC probably didn’t want Troy playing Miami twice at home … up the road, a rematch of Akron (91-NET) vs. Ark. State (94-NET) screams rematch as the Zips opened last season with an overtime road loss to Ark. State, but this season woulda-coulda-shoulda got this same team in Akron to open the season (they play James Madison NET 158, instead) … In my mind, that’s what this SBC/MAC challenge is for. Best against the best. If that means repeat matchups, so be it, within reason.
BTW … where can we find these “projected NET rankings.” I’d love to see them.
https://barttorvik.com/trankpre.php
This was the page that Steele and Paul Fritschner mentioned in last week’s interview.
It’s wild to me that Bart was my assigned mentor at my first job out of law school, and now everyone knows him for the rankings he’s been quietly doing for years.
I think the first round games are based on these factors: projected NET rankings, avoiding rematches, trying to get one game that might get a national tv coverage, and looking for an opponent that you have not yet been matched up against. Probably looking for TV coverage with the Arkansas - JMU matchup.
The schedule (at least the non-conference portion) should be released this week or next. Does anyone have any intel on this?
Not sure that anything will be released for OOC yet. I am fairly certain of the following games: opener v Old Dominion, home v Maine, home v Coppin St & another team as part of Miami hosting a four team event right before Thanksgiving; at Sun Belt TBD in February; at Air Force. They are still working on the rest of OOC–so far no “high majors” willing to take us on. I would assume we will have 1-2 games that we buy an opponent (like Defiance/Bethel from last season), etc. That would leave five other OOC games TBD. Just an educated guess though. Looking forward to the full schedule release. Last year I think it was first week of September that it was released.
Is the Maine game a home and home?
Jude Killy is Maine’s Director of Athletics and Jason Grunkemeyer is Maine’s Deputy Director of Athletics.
In addition, Ryan Mabrey is now at Maine.
And Cooper Flagg’s twin brother, Ace, will be suiting up for the Black Bears this season.
Was on the UMaine campus two weeks ago. Looks like a major renovation project going on at the Black Bears’s Alfond Arena hockey rink.
Yep!
I read that the Maine men’s hockey team has a Miami coaching presence,also.
If Miami is going to play a FCS team every year, I’d love to see the Black Bears in Oxford.
@Not-your-dads-miami not sure but i would assume so.