Cincinnati to Host American in Basketball Season Opener
The Bearcats launch their 2026-27 season against American at home on November 2.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Basketball
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Cincinnati will host American for the season opener on November 2, 2026. The game marks a fresh start for the Bearcats under new head coach Jerrod Calhoun.
Why it matters
The game provides a critical early test for a Cincinnati squad undergoing a significant roster overhaul after finishing the previous campaign with an 18-15 record.
Cincinnati finished the 2025-26 season with an 18-15 record, while American posted a 16-16 overall mark including a 9-9 record in the Patriot League. Preseason standout Tylen Riley enters the opener with 31 points and 13 assists.
The players
Jerrod Calhoun
He is the new head coach of Cincinnati and a graduate of the university.
Wes Miller
He served as the head coach of the Cincinnati basketball program prior to his recent firing.
Tylen Riley
He is a new player on the Cincinnati roster who recorded 31 points and 13 assists during the preseason.
Greg Jones
He is the reigning preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year who plays for American.
MJ Collins Jr.
He is a transfer portal addition for Cincinnati who enters the season with a 17.5 points per game average.
The details
New head coach Jerrod Calhoun, an alumnus of the university, takes the helm following the departure of Wes Miller. The revamped Cincinnati roster includes recent transfer portal additions MJ Collins Jr., Elijah Perryman, Akai Fleming, and Tylen Riley.
Timeline
Cincinnati finished the 2025-26 season with an 18-15 record.
The season opener between Cincinnati and American is scheduled for November 2, 2026.
American will begin its conference play on December 30, 2026, at Lehigh.
Season Trajectory
Cincinnati enters the season opener facing a projection of eighth place in the Big 12 Conference preseason coaches' poll. This opener acts as a baseline for the team as they navigate a highly competitive 16-team league environment.
Cincinnati will lean on new additions like MJ Collins Jr. and Tylen Riley to improve upon last season's 18-15 record. Fans should watch for how the team integrates four major transfer portal arrivals during this first official home contest.
The takeaway
The game serves as the first measuring stick for a team undergoing a massive identity shift under a new coach. Integrating new talent quickly will be essential for the squad to climb out of the bottom half of the conference standings.
Further reading
For more information on the team's outlook, visit Basketball.
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