CLEVELAND – The Mid-American and Sun Belt Conferences announced the first wave of matchups for the 2026-27 MAC-Sun Belt Challenge on Thursday. Games tip off on Monday, Nov. 2, to mark the start of the 2026-27 season, with the Western Michigan women's basketball team slated to host Coastal Carolina, while the Bronco men are set to travel to Old Dominion.
 
On the women's side, the Broncos will welcome the Chanticleers to University Arena for the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Western Michigan went 1-1 in last year's challenge, falling at Appalachian State on Opening Night and winning at home against South Alabama in February. The MAC and SBC women's teams split last season's series evenly, 13-13.
 
The trip to Old Dominion for the WMU men's team will mark the first regular season game at the helm for new head coach Kahil Fennell. Like the women's matchup, the battle between the Broncos and the Monarchs will mark the first-ever meeting between the two squads. The men's team also split its games against Sun Belt foes last season, knocking off Coastal Carolina and falling at Texas State. The SBC held a slim 14-12 edge in last year's men's matchups.
 
The second wave of games for this year's challenge are slated for Saturday, Feb. 6, with the MAC men's teams and Sun Belt women's teams getting the home games. The matchups for the second round of games for this season's challenge are slated to be announced in January of 2027.
 
Deposits are now being accepted for Western Michigan men's and women's basketball season tickets for the 2026-27 season. To reserve your season tickets, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.