WASHINGTON – The Capital Thanksgiving Classic returns to Bender Arena for a second consecutive year, highlighting a six-game home non-conference schedule for American University men's basketball and fourth-year head coach Duane Simpkins. The Eagles' home opener has them hosting Harvard on Sunday, November 15, after three games on the road to begin the 2026-27 season.

The road schedule is highlighted by local rivals Maryland (Dec. 2) and George Washington (Dec. 9), along with trips to Clemson (Nov. 6) out of the ACC, and Cincinnati (Nov. 2) and UCF (Dec. 6) out of the Big 12.

"Our non-conference schedule is designed to challenge us in every way," said Simpkins. "We'll face outstanding opponents on the road, welcome quality programs to Bender and give our team opportunities to grow before Patriot League play. We're excited about the group we have returning and can't wait to see our fans back in Bender this season."

Fans can get an early look at the Eagles in Bender Arena on Sunday, Oct. 25 as AU hosts Howard in an open exhibition at 1 p.m. The Eagles will also play an open exhibition on the road at NJIT on Oct. 18.

Headlining the home slate is the second annual multi-team event from Nov. 27–29, as Radford, UMass Lowell, and Hampton visit Bender Arena. Games are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day, with American's games at 4 p.m. and all four teams competing daily in round-robin fashion.

American opens its season on Nov. 2 at Cincinnati out of the Big 12, facing the Bearcats for the first time since the lone prior meeting in 1991. AU then travels to Clemson, an ACC program having posted 20-win seasons in each of the past four years, with three NCAA appearances including an Elite Eight appearance in 2024. The teams have met only once previously, with Clemson earning the win in 1977.

After a third road trip to Drexel on Nov. 11, American will look to improve to 5-1 all-time against Harvard in the home opener. The Eagles and the Crimson split a home-and-home series in 2023 and 2024, with AU winning 67-55 at home in Bender on Nov. 10, 2024, in front of a crowd of 3,319.

Home games against Mary Baldwin (Nov. 19) and Towson (Nov. 22) follow, before the Capitol Thanksgiving Classic to close out the month of November. The Eagles are 22-4 all-time against Towson, but the teams have not met since 2005. American last faced Radford in 2003 and Hampton in 2015, while Mary Baldwin and UMass Lowell will be first-time opponents.

All five non-conference contests in December are on the road, but two of those are very close by at Maryland and George Washington. The Eagles are set to face the Terps for the first time in 10 years at the XFINITY Center on Dec. 2. Maryland leads the series 16-2 all-time, with American earning its lone victory in College Park in 2007. Simpkins is a 1996 graduate of Maryland where he helped lead the Terps to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet 16 runs.

The Eagles lost at GW a year ago after winning three straight against the Revolutionaries, and that match-up is set for Dec. 9 at the Smith Center.

American faces its second Big 12 opponent on Dec. 6, heading to UCF for the second-ever meeting with the Knights and first since 1978. UCF went 21-12 last season and suffered a narrow loss to UCLA in the NCAA First Round. Other December contests take the Eagles to UMES on Dec. 13, and finally to 2026 NCAA participant Penn on Dec. 22.

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