Penn State basketball opens 2026-27 season with new-look roster
Kevin McGuireNittany Lions Wire
Nov. 2, 2026, 4:05 a.m. ET
A new basketball season is in the air in Happy Valley. Penn State will host a doubleheader to kick off the new season for the men’s and women’s college basketball teams on Monday evening in the Bryce Jordan Center. After the women’s team wraps up its opener against Cleveland State, the men will get to work for their opener against Canisius.
Mike Rhoades enters his fourth season at the helm of the Penn State basketball program with a record of 44-52 in Happy Valley. The results have been below the desires of the Penn State faithful overall, and he is once again putting together a team almost from scratch with help from the transfer portal and with some European imports.
Penn State won a pair of exhibition games leading up to the start of the new season. The Nittany Lions won a matchup with St. Bonaventure in Buffalo, 68-65, and earned an exhibition win over Drexel, 68-57, last week as the final tune-up for the new season. If the exhibitions are any indication of what to expect, then the Nittany Lions will be led by veteran forward Josh Reed, who averaged 16.5 ppg in the two exhibitions with 7.0 rebounds per game. Reed is one of two returning players with sophomore forward Ivan Jurić. Graduate senior Thomas Allard averaged 2.5 assists per game in those exhibitions while averaging 31.8 minutes.
Canisius is entering its third season with Jim Christian as the head coach. Canisius went 10-21 last season and 5-15 in the Metro Atlantic Conference. The Golden Griffins are also coming into the new year with a fresh roster overhaul
Penn State is 4-0 against Canisius in the all-time series, and Penn State is going for its ninth straight season-opening win.
Here is how to watch the Penn State men’s basketball game with Canisius on Monday evening.
What channel is Penn State vs. Canisius men’s basketball on today?
- Date: Monday, November 2, 2026
- Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: N/A
- Livestream: B1G+
The Penn State men’s basketball game against Canisius will not be available to watch on TV. Instead, you can stream the game on the Big Ten’s official streaming platform, B1G+.
Updated betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, November 2, 2026.
- Spread: Penn State -21.5
- Penn State moneyline: -25000
- Canisius moneyline: +2200
- Over/under: 152.5
2026-27 USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Florida will start the season as the nation’s preseason No. 1. The Gators received 20 first-place votes in the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. No. 2 Duke picked up 8 first-place votes, and preseason Big Ten favorite Illinois is ranked third with 2 first-place votes.
Penn State did not receive any votes in the preseason coaches poll, which was not surprising to see. Other Big Ten teams joining No. 3 Illinois in the preseason poll include No. 6 Michigan State, No. 20 Michigan, No. 22 USC, and No. 24 Purdue. Nebraska, UCLA, Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Maryland were among the others receiving votes.
You can view the full USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll to see who else is ranked to start the season.
Upcoming Penn State men’s basketball schedule
All times are Eastern.
- Nov. 5 vs. Chattanooga, 6:00 p.m.
- Nov. 8 vs. Pittsburgh (The Palestra, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 8:00 p.m.
- Nov. 12 vs. Mercyhurst, 6:30 p.m.
- Nov. 15 vs. New Haven, 4:30 p.m.
- Nov. 18 vs. IU Indianapolis, 6:30 p.m.
Full Penn State men’s basketball schedule
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