NEW ORLEANS – The first-round games of the third installment of the MAC-SBC Challenge were announced by the Sun Belt Conference office on Tuesday. Texas State women's basketball will host Ohio while Texas State men's basketball will go to Bowling Green.
 
Both games will serve as season openers for Texas State men's and women's basketball, with the games on Monday, November 3 and tipoff times to be determined.
 
Both Bobcat basketball teams have posted 3-1 records in the challenge, with each of their lone losses coming in the second round of the 2024-2025 challenge. 
 
This will be Texas State women's basketball's second meeting all-time and of the MAC-SBC Challenge with the Ohio Bobcats. Last first the teams met was Feb. 10, 2024, which was Head Coach Zenarae Antoine's 200^th win as a head coach. Antoine completed her graduate assistant coaching stint with the Bobcats as well.
 
Last season, Texas State women's basketball finished the season with a 13-17 record and went 1-1 in the MAC-SBC Challenge with a win vs Eastern Michigan and a loss to Western Michigan. Ohio finished the season 6-23 and winless in the MAC-SBC Challenge with losses to Georgia Southern and Southern Miss.
 
Texas State men's basketball will go to Bowling Green for their first-ever meeting with the Falcons.
 
Texas State men's basketball finished the 2024-25 season with a 16-16 record and went 1-1 in the MAC-SBC Challenge last season. They counted a win versus Eastern Michigan and a loss to Central Michigan last year. Their first-round opponent, Bowling Green, was 14-18 last season and went 1-1 in the MAC-SBC Challenge with a loss to Southern Miss and a win against Coastal Carolina.  
 
Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge is guaranteed one home and away game. Every contest will also be carried on an ESPN platform.
 
The second round of the MAC-SBC Challenge will be played in February and opponents are to be determined at a later date, based on NET rankings.
 
For the most up to date scheduling and ticketing information for the 2025-26 Texas State basketball season, stay tuned to txst.com.