NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 13, 2025 Alright, hoops fans, buckle up. Belmont men’s basketball just dropped its 2025-26 non-conference slate, and it’s looking stacked. The Bruins tip things off on November 3 at home against Air Force, a rematch from last year’s nail-biter in Colorado Springs, where five Bruins hit double digits. Basically, this opener is gonna be a statement game inside the Curb Event Center.
Early Smoke Rivalries and Road Trips
Just five days later, on November 8, it’s a city showdown as Tennessee State comes to town. The Bruins have owned this matchup, winning 24 of the last 27, but they haven’t thrown down since early 2022. Expect the energy to be all gas, no brakes.
Then Belmont hits the road to face Oral Roberts in Oklahoma a trip that’s practically a homecoming for Tennessee-based play-by-play guy Steve Layman, who’s got Tulsa roots.
The Boulevard Battle Returns
November 19 is the date you circle in red for the 152nd Battle of the Boulevard. Belmont hosts Lipscomb, just three miles away, in what’s easily one of Division I’s nastiest local rivalries. The Bruins have taken 19 of the last 22 meetings, including last year’s buzzer-beater heart stopper.
Beach Vibes & Big Names
From November 24–26, the squad heads to Florida for the Coconut Classic — their first Fort Myers trip in 14 years. Opponents are still TBD, but you can bet the palm trees won’t distract them from the grind.
After that, it’s off to Charleston to face a College of Charleston squad that racked up 24 wins last season. No soft landings here.
December No Chill
The holidays aren’t slowing anything down. On December 3, Belmont welcomes Richmond, fresh off an Atlantic 10 championship. Last year, Belmont took them down in Richmond behind Jonathan Pierre’s near triple-double.
Four days later, on December 7, they battle Middle Tennessee, a rivalry so tight you need a magnifying glass to find the margin of victory Belmont took last year by just three points.
Then comes a mid-December CAA pre-holiday cup stretch (Dec. 12–17) before capping it all on December 19 against UC Irvine, the same Anteaters who danced to the NIT title game.
Why This Stretch Matters
Belmont isn’t just throwing games together; this is a schedule built for grit. They’ve pulled off 15 straight 20+ win seasons, which is rare air for any D1 squad.
Ever since jumping to the Missouri Valley Conference in 2022, the Bruins have been climbing the competition ladder. Last season’s 22–11 mark (13–7 in MVC play) showed they can hang with bigger programs.
And the Battle of the Boulevard? That’s not just a game, that’s Nashville history. These two first clashed in 1953 and have gone at it over 150 times since. Belmont’s got the current edge, 76–75, thanks to last year’s 80–79 thriller.
Social Buzz
“The Belmont Bruins are the 100th of 365 Division 1 Men’s Basketball programs to release their 2025-26 non-conference schedule.”
My Take
This schedule screams “prove it” season. Coach Casey Alexander isn’t ducking anyone; they’ve got rivalries, cross-country trips, and big-name matchups. For a program that’s already made a name in mid-major circles, this is the kind of slate that can turn heads nationally. If the Bruins start hot and snag some signature wins, we might be looking back on this as the year Belmont went from respected to feared.
