NASHVILLE — Tennessee State men's basketball released its 2025-26 schedule on Thursday, highlighting the debut season of head coach Nolan Smith. The Tigers will play 30 games, including 12 at home, with a nonconference slate featuring in-state rivals, SEC competition, and two neutral-site showcase events.

"We are very excited about this year's schedule, with some strong nonconference games, and our OVC schedule will be a battle," Smith said. "We are preparing to compete to win."

The season opens Nov. 3 at the Gentry Center against Fisk in the "Battle of Jefferson Street", followed by a Nov. 7 crosstown stroll to Belmont.

On Nov. 11, the Tigers host Oakwood before traveling to Western Kentucky for a trek up I-65N on Nov. 16.

One of the year's marquee games comes Nov. 20, when TSU travels to Knoxville to face Tennessee. The Volunteers, coming off another NCAA Tournament appearance, provide a high-level in-state matchup for the Tigers.

TSU remains on the road to face UNC Asheville in a return matchup from last season.

The Tigers then participate in the Coke Classic in Chattanooga, facing Tennessee Wesleyan on Nov. 29 and host Mocs on Nov. 30.

The final month of 2025 opens with a local I-65S matchup against Alabama A&M on Dec. 3.

On Dec. 13, TSU travels west to Las Vegas for the Jack Jones Classic, where it will face UNLV. The Runnin' Rebels, a traditional Mountain West program, add another national spotlight matchup to the Tigers' nonconference schedule.

The holiday stretch begins when the Tigers welcome UT Martin on Dec. 18 and Southeast Missouri on Dec. 20 to start OVC play and host their final home games before the break.

December closes and January opens with road games at Tennessee Tech (Dec. 30) and Little Rock (Jan. 3). The four-game road swing continues in Illinois with matchups against Western Illinois (Jan. 8) and Eastern Illinois (Jan. 10).

The first conference home games of the new year are Jan. 15 against Morehead State and Jan. 17 against Southern Indiana. Other league highlights include road trips to Southeast Missouri (Jan. 22), UT Martin (Feb. 5) and Morehead State (Feb. 26).

The regular season concludes Feb. 28 at UT Martin before the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, scheduled for March 4-8 in Evansville, Indiana.

Ticket information, game times, and broadcast details are available at tsutigers.com.