SoCon Announces Nexstar Basketball Broadcast Schedule

SPARTANBURG, SC – Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., Ingles Markets, and the Southern Conference announced the Ingles SoCon Game of the Week broadcast package for basketball on Friday, featuring 19 regular-season games and select coverage at the 2026 Ingles SoCon Basketball Championship.

"We're excited to continue our partnership with Nexstar Media Group and Ingles Markets to bring SoCon basketball to television screens across our region," said Southern Conference Commissioner Michael Cross. "This year's slate of games is our most extensive regional media package and our largest women's basketball package in conference history – landmark achievements made possible by Ingles Markets and Nexstar that underscore the growth and excitement surrounding SoCon basketball. These games showcase the competitive excellence and regional rivalries that make the SoCon special. Fans will witness the passion and tradition that defines SoCon basketball at its highest level. 

"I'm especially grateful to Ingles Markets for their unwavering commitment to our student-athletes and institutions. Their continued support has been instrumental in providing enhanced visibility for our member schools and the communities they represent. In the Southern Conference, It's All Here – and now more fans than ever can experience it."

The Game of the Week slate tips off on Sunday, October 26, with No. 15 Alabama visiting Furman for a 3:00 pm men's exhibition game to introduce newly renovated Timmons Arena. A pair of A-Sun / SoCon Challenge matchups will air on the men's side in November, with Lipscomb at Mercer (November 9, 2:00 pm) and Stetson at Western Carolina (November 16, 1:00 pm). A marquee women's matchup follows the Stetson-WCU game on November 16, with the Catamounts hosting No. 6 Oklahoma at 3:30 pm.

"Ingles Markets considers The Southern Conference and Nexstar two of our most valued partnerships," said Ingles Markets Director of Advertising Melissa Leavell. "This season's Ingles SoCon Game of the Week schedule is bringing big matchups that are proof of the value the Southern Conference brings to the Game. Ingles is excited to bring Nexstar and The Southern Conference together again this year. Don't miss any of this year's action!"

All 10 men's teams and six of the eight women's teams will play at least once as part of the 2025-2026 Ingles SoCon Game of the Week schedule. The first conference battle comes on January 7, with UNC Greensboro traveling to Spartanburg, SC, to face defending men's champion Wofford at 6:00 pm. Chattanooga visits defending champion UNC Greensboro on January 22 in the first women's conference game in the broadcast package.

A men's wildcard matchup will close out the regular-season broadcasts on February 25, with the teams chosen and announced on February 9. The schedule also includes Friday coverage of the Ingles SoCon Basketball Championship on March 6 in Asheville, NC.

Nexstar affiliates with the opportunity to air games include: WMYT (Charlotte); WYCW (Spartanburg/Greenville/Asheville); WWCW (Roanoke, VA); WCBD (Charleston, SC); WBTW (Myrtle Beach, SC); WGHP (Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem); WHDF (Huntsville/Florence, AL); WJHL (Johnson City, TN). Although not Nexstar stations, EFLI (Chattanooga, TN) and WMUB (Macon, GA) will also have the opportunity to air games from this season’s package.

The complete Ingles SoCon Game of the Week schedule is listed below:

2025-26 SoCon Basketball Nexstar Television Schedule

Oct. 26 (3:00 pm) – Alabama at Furman (Exhib.)

Nov. 9 (2:00 pm) – Lipscomb at Mercer *

Nov. 16 (1:00 pm) – Stetson at Western Carolina *

Nov. 16 (3:30 pm) – Oklahoma at Western Carolina (W)

Nov. 23 (2:00 pm) – Clemson at Furman (W)

Dec. 6 (4:30 pm) – Southeast Missouri at Chattanooga

Jan. 7 (6:00 pm) – UNC Greensboro at Wofford

Jan. 10 (4:30 pm) – Samford at Chattanooga

Jan. 14 (6:00 pm) – ETSU at Western Carolina

Jan. 17 (6:00 pm) – Wofford at Furman

Jan. 22 (6:00 pm) – Chattanooga at UNC Greensboro (W)

Jan. 24 (1:00 pm) – Mercer at Wofford

Jan. 29 (6:00 pm) – Wofford at Chattanooga

Feb. 7 (6:00 pm) – Mercer at Samford

Feb. 11 (6:00 pm) – The Citadel at Western Carolina

Feb. 12 (6:00 pm) – Furman at Western Carolina (W)

Feb. 18 (6:00 pm) – VMI at Wofford

Feb. 19 (11:00 am) – Mercer at Wofford (W)

Feb. 25 (6:00 pm) – Wildcard Game (Teams announced on February 9)

Mar. 6 (TBD) – Coverage of Friday’s Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships

* Denotes A-Sun / SoCon Challenge matchup