The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Basketball Selected for Three National TV Games, MAC Releases TV Broadcast Schedule
October 23 | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Akron Zips men's basketball program was selected for three nationally televised broadcasts, with five 21-day wildcard dates open, as the Mid-American Conference announced its national basketball television schedule for the 2025-26 season on Thursday, October 23.
Akron's first nationally televised game will be on Friday, January 9, when the Zips battle the Bowling Green Falcons on CBS Sports Network at the Stroh Center at 8 p.m. The Zips will then be featured on ESPNU when they travel to Ohio on Friday, January 23, for an 8:00 p.m. tipoff.
The first installment of the rivalry game between Akron and Kent State was also selected to be aired on national TV, as CBSSN will broadcast the game from James A. Rhodes Arena on Friday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m.
The remaining dates will be announced 21 days prior to the contests, which may affect five game dates for Akron, including three home games against Toledo (Jan. 27), UMass (Feb. 13) and NIU (March 6), as well as a pair of road games at Ball State (Feb. 20) and Kent State (Feb. 27).
The extensive MAC package features coverage of MAC basketball contests that will be televised nationally on the following linear platforms -- ESPN2, ESPNU & CBS Sports Network.
The MAC Men's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals will be available on ESPN+, the industry-leading sports streaming service.
For the 10th consecutive year, the MAC Men's Basketball Semifinals will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network, while the Men's Basketball Championship game will air live on Saturday, March 14, on ESPN2 (Time TBA).
In addition, all 12 MAC institutions will be participating in the league's school content production program with ESPN. Each institution will provide a minimum of 35 athletic events as part of the agreement. Those games will appear exclusively on ESPN+.
Games airing on an ESPN network will also be available on the ESPN App.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Akron men's basketball season tickets are now on sale for the 2025-26 campaign and can be purchased at gozips.com/tickets or by calling or texting 1-888-99-AKRON (25766). The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street) is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays.
For a look at this year's nationally televised MAC men's basketball schedule, please see below.
CBS Sports Network
- Tuesday, Jan. 6 – UMass @ Ohio, 6 pm ET;
- Friday, Jan. 9 – Miami @ Toledo, 6 pm ET / Akron @ Bowling Green, 8 pm ET;
- Friday, Jan. 16– Toledo @ Kent State, 6:30 pm ET; Ohio @ Ball State, 8:30 pm ET
- Friday, Jan. 23 – UMass @ Buffalo, 7 pm ET;
- Friday, Jan. 30 – Kent State @ Akron, 6 pm ET;
- Friday, Feb. 13 – 21-day wildcard selection, 9 pm ET;
- Friday, Feb.20 – 21-day wildcard selection, 6:30 pm ET; / 21-day wildcard selection, 8:30 pm ET;
- Friday, Feb. 27 – 21–day wildcard selection, 6 pm ET;
- Friday, March 6 – 21-day wildcard selection, 6 pm ET;
- Friday, March 13 - MAC Tournament Men's Semifinals, 5 pm ET / 7:30 pm ET;
ESPN
- Friday, Jan. 23 — Akron @ Ohio, 8 pm ET (ESPNU);
- Tuesday, Jan. 27 – 21-day wildcard selection, 9 pm ET (ESPNU);
- Saturday, Feb. 13 -- 21-day wildcard selection, 8 pm ET (ESPNU);
- Friday, Feb. 27 -- 21-day wildcard selection, 8 pm ET (ESPNU);
- Friday, March 6 -- 21-day wildcard selection, 9 pm ET (ESPN2);
- Thursday, March 12 – MAC Tournament Men's Quarterfinals (ESPN+)
- Saturday, March 14 – MAC Tournament Men's Championship, TBA (ESPN2);
