Coach Danny Sprinkle just dropped the 2026-27 non-conference schedule for our Huskies, and man, it’s packed with some absolute BIG TIME matchups, including a monster showdown right in our backyard at Climate Pledge Arena! We’re talking Big 12 powerhouses making the trip here, and it’s gonna be a true test for Sprinkle’s third-year squad.
The Dawgs Are Headed to Maui, Then Bringing the Heat Home
Our Dawgs are kicking things off right away with a challenging slate. The regular season officially tips off on November 2 against Colgate, but before that, we get a taste of rivalry with an exhibition against cross-state foe Washington State on October 25 at Alaska Airlines Arena. Can you believe it’s the first time these programs won’t meet in the regular season since 1917? Wild! Then, after hosting Mississippi Valley State a week later , a team we haven’t seen since Romar’s crew beat them 95-80 back in 2013-14 , it’s time for some island hoops. The Huskies are flying over the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii for the Southwest Maui Invitational on November 23. That first game? BYU. Another Big 12 squad, right off the bat! The other two games are still TBD, but we know one will be against either Clemson or Ole Miss.
Big 12 Teams Rolling Through Seattle and a Key Road Test
After the Maui trip, the schedule keeps serving up challenges. Our only true road game takes us to Salt Lake City on November 14 to face Utah, another former Pac-12 rival. We took a 95-90 loss there in 2023-24, so you know the Dawgs will be looking for some payback. But here’s the kicker: six of our seven non-conference games in Seattle are at home. That’s huge for building momentum! We host Utah Tech on November 19 at Hec Edmundson Pavillion before the Maui trip, then Norfolk State on November 29, Southern Utah on December 8, and Cornell on December 28. The absolute highlight, though? On December 19, we get to host Baylor, a bonafide Big 12 power, and they’ll be playing us at Climate Pledge Arena! You know the Emerald City is going to be rocking for that one.
Look, Coach Sprinkle’s record under the radar has been 29-35 overall and 11-29 in Big Ten play over the past two seasons, so this schedule is where we can really see what this team is made of. Getting Baylor and BYU, plus a road trip to Utah, shows he’s not shying away from competition. When January rolls around, we’ll be diving headfirst into the Big Ten schedule, but these non-conference matchups are going to be crucial for getting the Huskies ready for the grind. Better mark those calendars, Dawg fans, it’s gonna be a fun ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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