Men's Basketball

Troy, Akron Men’s Basketball Matchup Elevated to ESPN2 Broadcast

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference, in conjunction with ESPN, announced the Saturday, February 7 men’s basketball matchup between Akron and Troy as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge will be televised nationally on ESPN2 with a 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT tipoff at Trojan Arena in Troy, Ala.
 
The contest headlines the second round of this season’s MAC-SBC Challenge which features 13 Sun Belt Conference (SBC) men’s basketball programs hosting 13 Mid-American Conference (MAC) teams. First-round matchups occurred on Nov. 3 with MAC schools hosting Sun Belt opponents.
 
Troy (14-6, 7-1 SBC) currently leads the Sun Belt in the latest NCAA NET rankings at No. 107, while the Zips (15-4, 6-1 MAC) are second in the MAC at No. 54. Both teams are also listed in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll with Akron ranked No. 11 while the Trojans are No. 24.

The game is the second of four wildcard appearances for the Sun Belt on the ESPN Family of Networks during the 2025-26 season. The remaining wildcard appearances will take place February 14 and February 28 with matchups to be determined.

As part of the Sun Belt’s comprehensive media rights partnership with ESPN, which runs through the 2030-31 academic year, the Worldwide Leader in Sports will also broadcast the championship games of the 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships presented by Air Force Reserve on Monday, March 9. The men’s basketball championship game will air at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2 at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Fla.

Ticket packages are now on sale for the 2026 Sun Belt Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships. Click here for more information and to purchase your tickets today. 
 
2025-26 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball ESPN2/ESPNU Wildcard Schedule
Saturday, January 10 – Georgia Southern at South Alabama – 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT [ESPNU]
Saturday, February 7 – Akron at Troy – 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT [ESPN2]
Saturday, February 14 – Wildcard – 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT [ESPNU]
Friday, February 27 – Wildcard – 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT [ESPN2]