The 2026-27 LSU men's basketball schedule was released Monday, and the Tigers won't have many opportunities to ease into the season.
LSU is scheduled to face at least 17 teams that reached postseason play last season, including marquee non-conference matchups against Gonzaga, Houston and Wake Forest before navigating another grueling SEC schedule.
Before the regular season begins, the Tigers will play three exhibition games. LSU opens exhibition play with a trip to Lake Charles on Oct. 8 to face McNeese, the former program of head coach Will Wade. The Tigers will also host UCF before traveling to Florida State for their final exhibition.
The regular season tips off Nov. 3 against LSU New Orleans.
Plenty of in-state opponents
LSU will face four Louisiana schools during the regular season, hosting Louisiana Tech (Nov. 9), ULM (Nov. 18), Louisiana-Lafayette (Dec. 22) and LSU New Orleans in the opener.
Challenging non-conference schedule
The Tigers have several intriguing home games before SEC play begins.
Queens visits Baton Rouge on Nov. 21 after earning an NCAA Tournament berth in its first season of postseason eligibility.
Hofstra comes to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Dec. 5 after capturing the Coastal Athletic Association tournament title and reaching last season's NCAA Tournament.
High Point visits on Dec. 18 after a record-setting 31-win season that included an NCAA Tournament appearance and a first-round upset of Wisconsin.
LSU also hosts Wake Forest on Dec. 1 in the annual SEC/ACC Challenge.
The Tigers' first major road test comes Nov. 14 against Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington. The Bulldogs finished 31-4 last season and are expected to begin the year ranked in the preseason Top 25.
Another marquee matchup comes Dec. 13, when LSU faces Houston at the Toyota Center. The Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 last season and are again expected to contend nationally. Houston also has LSU's former point guard, Dedan Thomas Jr.
During Thanksgiving week, LSU will travel to Palm Springs, California, for the Acrisure Series. Tournament opponents will be announced next month.
SEC gauntlet awaits
Conference play opens Jan. 2 at home against South Carolina. While the Gamecocks have struggled in SEC play over the past two seasons, LSU's schedule quickly becomes much more difficult.
Following the opener, the Tigers face Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky in a four-game stretch that should provide an early measuring stick in conference play.
February features an unusual Friday night home game against Ole Miss on Feb. 5. The game was moved to Friday to avoid conflicting with Baton Rouge's Big Spanish Town Parade during Mardi Gras weekend.
Florida, which could enter the season ranked No. 1 nationally, visits the PMAC on Feb. 16 or 17.
LSU closes the regular season with a home game against Arkansas before finishing on the road at Missouri. The SEC Tournament will be held March 10-14 in Nashville.
2026-27 LSU Men's Basketball Schedule
Exhibition
- Oct. 8 – at McNeese
- Oct. 14 – UCF
- Oct. 24 – at Florida State
November
- Nov. 3 – LSU New Orleans
- Nov. 6 – Texas Southern
- Nov. 9 – Louisiana Tech
- Nov. 14 – vs. Gonzaga (Spokane, Washington)
- Nov. 18 – ULM
- Nov. 21 – Queens
- Nov. 25-26 – Acrisure Series (Palm Springs, California)
December
- Dec. 1 – Wake Forest (SEC/ACC Challenge)
- Dec. 5 – Hofstra
- Dec. 13 – vs. Houston (Toyota Center, Houston)
- Dec. 18 – High Point
- Dec. 22 – Louisiana-Lafayette
- Dec. 28 – Washington State
SEC Schedule
- Jan. 2 – South Carolina
- Jan. 5/6 – at Alabama
- Jan. 9 – Tennessee
- Jan. 12/13 – at Kentucky
- Jan. 16 – at Texas A&M
- Jan. 19/20 – Texas
- Jan. 23 – Auburn
- Jan. 26/27 – at Arkansas
- Jan. 30 – at Georgia
- Feb. 2/3 – Vanderbilt
- Feb. 5 – Ole Miss
- Feb. 13 – at Oklahoma
- Feb. 16/17 – Florida
- Feb. 20 – at Mississippi State
- Feb. 23/24 – at Auburn
- Feb. 27 – Texas A&M
- March 2/3 – Arkansas
- March 6 – at Missouri
SEC Tournament: March 10-14 (Nashville, Tennessee)
