Bethesda Splits Roster, Plays Two Games
Bethesda University divided its 23-player roster to play two road games at the same time on November 7, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Basketball
Bethesda University split its roster into squads of 11 and 12 players to play Pepperdine in Malibu and Southern Utah in Cedar City on November 7, 2026. The Christian school opened the 2026-27 season 0-4 and is playing five games in four days across three states.
Why it matters
The split is a direct response to a demanding early schedule that has kept the program on the road, with each squad traveling to a different gym for its game. For Anaheim, home of Bethesda University, the decision highlights how a small private program is managing roster depth during a difficult start.
The roster of 23 players includes 21 guards, one forward and one center, leaving the team with few options at other positions. Bethesda's 0-4 start and its first home game not scheduled until December 16, 2026, leave its path to a winning record undetermined.
The players
Bethesda University
A small private Christian school founded in 1976 by Pastor David Yonggi Cho, which competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association.
Pepperdine University
A private university in Malibu, California, that hosted Bethesda on November 7, 2026.
Southern Utah University
A public university in Cedar City, Utah, that hosted Bethesda on November 7, 2026, and defeated Bethesda 118-60 last November.
The details
Bethesda University, a small private Christian school founded in 1976 by Pastor David Yonggi Cho, played Pepperdine at 6 p.m. and Southern Utah at 7:30 p.m. on November 7, 2026, using two separate squads. The team is part of the National Christian College Athletic Association and is playing five games in four days, beginning in Hawaii on November 6.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: Bethesda plays in Hawaii at 7 p.m., the first of five games.
November 7, 2026: Bethesda plays Pepperdine in Malibu at 6 p.m. and Southern Utah in Cedar City at 7:30 p.m.
November 8, 2026: Bethesda plays Portland in Honolulu at 2:30 p.m.
November 9, 2026: Bethesda plays UT Arlington in Honolulu at 4:30 p.m.
December 16, 2026: Bethesda's first home game of the season.
Season Trajectory
Bethesda's November 7 game at Southern Utah returns the program to a venue where it lost 118-60 last November, adding a repeat test to an already difficult start. With an 0-4 record and a first home game not scheduled until December 16, the program's standings depend heavily on how it performs during this stretch of road games.
Fans following Bethesda's fantasy or game-day plans should note that the roster split means individual players may see different minutes depending on which squad they join. The team's five-game, four-day schedule across three states means road-trip logistics are the main factor for anyone trying to attend a game in person.
The takeaway
Bethesda's decision to split its roster reflects the realities of a compressed schedule for a small program with limited depth. Watch how the team handles its next stretch of games before drawing conclusions about its season.
What happens next
Bethesda's first home game of the 2026-27 season is scheduled for December 16, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the team's early schedule, see Basketball coverage across the season.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
