Western Carolina’s mid-February men’s basketball matchup against conference rival Furman on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center highlights a pair of national television appearances secured by the Catamounts for the 2026-27 regular season.
The broadcast details were announced as part of the Southern Conference’s 19-game regular-season television package. The conference schedule features a modern-era high of 15 regular-season men’s basketball games distributed between the ESPN networks and the CBS Sports Network, marking the league’s most robust national television exposure in at least two decades. All 11 SoCon teams are scheduled to appear in at least one national contest, with games strategically placed after students return to campus to foster energetic environments. Seven of the contests are slated for January, while the remaining eight take place in February ahead of the conference tournament in Asheville, North Carolina.
Interim SoCon Commissioner Geoff Cabe noted that the unprecedented level of exposure reflects the strength of the conference programs, the quality of student-athletes and coaches, and the broader excitement surrounding the sport. He emphasized that these platforms provide vital opportunities to elevate member institutions, connect with a nationwide audience, and grow the profile of the conference.
Western Carolina’s first national broadcast is scheduled for Sunday, February 7, when the Catamounts travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to face Samford. The game will tip off at 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT on the CBS Sports Network, moving from its original Saturday slot to accommodate national television windows. Just six days later, WCU hosts Furman on Ingles Court for a unique morning matchup on Saturday, February 13, tipping off at 10 a.m. on the CBS Sports Network.
Every game in the broadcast package, produced by the home conference school, will also stream concurrently on ESPN+ for subscribers. In addition to the men’s coverage, a combined six women’s basketball programs and nine men’s teams will receive featured exposure throughout the season.
SoCon athletic departments collaborated with longtime broadcast partners ESPN and CBS Sports to identify scheduling windows designed to maximize viewership. Conference games will air across six different days of the week and eight different time slots. The partnership’s flexibility establishes a record for ESPN2 exposure within the league.
The expanded television slate begins Monday, January 11, when Mercer hosts Samford on ESPN2. The CBS Sports Network telecasts kick off five days later on Saturday, January 16, as VMI hosts The Citadel at 10 a.m.
Before diving into the conference schedule, Western Carolina opens its regular season with a demanding road trip down Tobacco Road to face ACC opponent North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Monday, November 2. The two-game season-opening swing continues November 7 with a renewal of the rivalry against UNC Asheville. The Catamounts make their home debut in Cullowhee on Wednesday, November 11, hosting Virginia University of Lynchburg.
All home games throughout the season are scheduled for broadcast on ESPN+, with live audio coverage available via the Catamount Sports Network following the conclusion of the football season. Season tickets and single-game passes for both men’s and women’s basketball are currently available through the Ramsey Center Ticket Office.
