Sun Belt, MAC Extend Basketball Challenge Through 2028-29 Season
The Sun Belt Conference and Mid-American Conference have agreed to extend their basketball scheduling partnership for two additional years, ensuring the MAC-SBC Challenge will continue through the 2028-29 season.
The two conferences announced the extension Wednesday, continuing an initiative that has become a staple of the nonconference basketball schedule for both leagues since its debut during the 2023-24 season.
Under the agreement, 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams from each conference will participate in a pair of challenge dates during the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons. Every matchup will be televised on an ESPN platform.
The scheduling alliance was created following recommendations from the Sun Belt’s men’s and women’s basketball strategic planning committees. Matchups are determined with assistance from Ordinal Sports Group, with factors including NET rankings, geography and previous meetings considered during the selection process.
“Over its three-year history, the MAC-SBC Challenge has annually produced many of the best non-conference matchups for our men’s and women’s basketball teams,” Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill said in a statement. “We are thrilled to continue this scheduling alliance with the Mid-American Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to these compelling NET-driven matchups against peer institutions.”
Mid-American Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said the challenge has benefited both leagues by providing competitive games and national exposure.
“The MAC-SBC Challenge has proven to be a tremendous opportunity for our men’s and women’s basketball programs to compete against quality opponents while providing meaningful exposure,” Steinbrecher said. “We are pleased to extend this partnership with the Sun Belt Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to continuing a series that benefits our student-athletes, institutions and fans through highly competitive, nationally visible matchups.”
The Sun Belt men’s programs have enjoyed considerable success in the challenge. The conference remained undefeated in the event during the 2025-26 season and secured its second challenge title in the event’s three-year history after sharing the crown with the MAC in 2024-25.
After posting a 14-12 record in the challenge last season, Sun Belt men’s teams improved their overall record in the event to 41-33. The conference compiled a 15-9 mark during the inaugural challenge in 2023-24.
Competition on the women’s side has been more evenly matched.
The Sun Belt captured the inaugural challenge title with a 14-10 advantage in 2023-24 before the MAC claimed the 2024-25 competition. The two conferences split the 2025-26 challenge, each earning 13 victories.
The next edition of the challenge is scheduled to begin Nov. 2, when Sun Belt men’s programs host MAC opponents while Sun Belt women’s teams travel to MAC schools. The return games are scheduled for Feb. 6, with hosting responsibilities reversed.
The 2027-28 challenge will begin Nov. 8, 2027, and conclude Feb. 5, 2028. The 2028-29 edition is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2028, and Feb. 3, 2029.
For Arkansas State and the rest of the Sun Belt, the extension guarantees additional opportunities for quality nonconference games that can boost postseason résumés through favorable NET-ranking matchups while providing national television exposure throughout the basketball season.