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The Ohio Valley Conference announced the first matchup of its 2025-26 ESPN basketball schedule. The men’s basketball contest will feature Lindenwood at Southeast Missouri on Thursday, January 15 at 8 p.m. CT and will air on ESPNU.
For the fourth-straight year the League is utilizing a Wild Card selection process to determine the linear broadcasts, with selections determined and announced approximate two weeks before the competition date to ensure the best matchups.
The full schedule includes eight total men’s basketball games (five regular season contests and three OVC Tournament games) that will appear on one of the linear networks during the season. The five regular season games will air on ESPNU.
The schedule also includes one regular season women’s game that will air on ESPNU. In addition, all seven games of the OVC Women’s Basketball Tournament, as well as the first round and quarterfinals of the men’s tournament (four total games), will be available on ESPN+ and the all-new ESPN App.
Once again, over 200 regular season conference games and home regular season non-conference contests will stream on ESPN+.
ESPN+ is the No. 1 sports streaming platform, serving fans in the U.S. with exclusive access to more than 32,000 live sports events each year, an unmatched library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content, and premium written articles by the top reporters and analysts on ESPN.com.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans within the ESPN App. Designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, the ESPN App provides a unique viewing experience that includes integrated game stats, multiview options, a synchronized two-screen feature, a vertical video feature called Verts and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as ESPN BET information, ESPN Fantasy sports, commerce, and more. These new features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.
2025-26 OVC ESPN Television Schedule
Thursday, January 15
Lindenwood at Southeast Missouri, 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Thursday, January 22
Wild Card Matchup, 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Saturday, February 7
Wild Card Matchup, 3:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Saturday, February 14 – WOMEN’S GAME
Wild Card Matchup, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Saturday, February 21
Wild Card Matchup, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Saturday, February 28
Wild Card Matchup, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
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The Ohio Valley Conference announced the first matchup of its 2025-26 ESPN basketball schedule. The men’s basketball contest will feature Lindenwood at Southeast Missouri on Thursday, January 15 at 8 p.m. CT and will air on ESPNU.
For the fourth-straight year the League is utilizing a Wild Card selection process to determine the linear broadcasts, with selections determined and announced approximate two weeks before the competition date to ensure the best matchups.
The full schedule includes eight total men’s basketball games (five regular season contests and three OVC Tournament games) that will appear on one of the linear networks during the season. The five regular season games will air on ESPNU.
The schedule also includes one regular season women’s game that will air on ESPNU. In addition, all seven games of the OVC Women’s Basketball Tournament, as well as the first round and quarterfinals of the men’s tournament (four total games), will be available on ESPN+ and the all-new ESPN App.
Once again, over 200 regular season conference games and home regular season non-conference contests will stream on ESPN+.
ESPN+ is the No. 1 sports streaming platform, serving fans in the U.S. with exclusive access to more than 32,000 live sports events each year, an unmatched library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content, and premium written articles by the top reporters and analysts on ESPN.com.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans within the ESPN App. Designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, the ESPN App provides a unique viewing experience that includes integrated game stats, multiview options, a synchronized two-screen feature, a vertical video feature called Verts and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as ESPN BET information, ESPN Fantasy sports, commerce, and more. These new features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.
2025-26 OVC ESPN Television Schedule
Thursday, January 15
Lindenwood at Southeast Missouri, 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Thursday, January 22
Wild Card Matchup, 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Saturday, February 7
Wild Card Matchup, 3:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Saturday, February 14 – WOMEN’S GAME
Wild Card Matchup, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Saturday, February 21
Wild Card Matchup, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Saturday, February 28
Wild Card Matchup, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
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