Penn State hoops reveals entire 2025-26 nonconference slate

The nonconference schedule is set for Penn State men’s basketball ahead of head coach Mike Rhoades‘ third season with the program. One day after revealing a double-header date with La Salle in Philadelphia, the Nittany Lions released the final two games left to be confirmed.

Those games include a Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day tilt with Navy, though former Penn State head coach Ed DeChellis retired this offseason. Additionally, the Nittany Lions will take on Campbell on Dec. 2 at the Bryce Jordan Center.

A process that has extended into late-August the past few seasons, with the Big Ten soon to release its dates, Rhoades explained earlier this summer what’s changed.

“Scheduling has gone later, just because people before they schedule a complete schedule, they want to have a complete roster, which I don’t know if that’s possible these days. So we’re sort of in the same boat as everybody else,” said Rhoades. “There’s some games we got done that we feel good about. A little bit of travel, but also trying to have a good balance, like last year, some good games, home games that get our guys going, and then a good enough schedule to get ready for the Big Ten schedule. Because once you get in that, as everybody knows, it’s a beast. So I want to have great balance.”

Complete Penn State 2025-26 nonconference schedule

Sizing up the competition

Breaking in a team nearly entirely made up of players new to the program this season, Rhoades and his staff have keyed in on winnable games to make up the nonconference schedule.

Two high-major programs on the slate include Pitt and Providence, both set for neutral sites. Outside of those matchups, the Nittany Lions will face four programs that finished the 2024-25 season ranked in the 200s in the NET and four more that finished in the 300s. New Haven reclassified its athletics from Division II to Division I beginning this year.

Where things stand on the roster

Guards Freddie Dilione, Dominick Stewart, Kayden Mingo, Reggie Grodin, Melih Tunca
Wings Eli Rice, Mason Blackwood, Josh Reed, Chris Lotito
Bigs Justin Hauser, Ivan Juric, Tibor Mirtic, Saša Ciani

Penn State scholarship breakdown by class

Fifth year (0): 
Fourth year (1): Josh Reed
Third year (3): Freddie Dilione, Eli Rice, Saša Ciani
Second year (1): Dominick Stewart
First year (8): Justin Hauser, Mason Blackwood, Kayden Mingo, Ivan Juric, Reggie Grodin, Melih Tunca, Chris Lotito, Tibor Mirtic

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