Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State men's basketball team will be tested early and often in the non-conference portion of the 2025-26 slate as the Penguins announced their non-Horizon League opponents.

The Penguins play six games away and five at home the friendly confines of Zidian Family Arena, and they will square off against teams from the ACC, Mountain West Conference, Atlantic-10 Conference, the Mid-American Conference, and will take part in a multi-team event in Jacksonville, Fla.

Youngstown State opens the campaign at nearby Pittsburgh on Nov. 3 and will make the program's first trip to the State of Arizona when the Penguins square off against Grand Canyon on Nov. 7.

The 2025-26 home opener is set for Nov. 10 against Penn State-Shenango before the Penguins visit St. Bonaventure on Nov. 15.

The Penguins return to Ohio to take on in-state foe Toledo on Nov. 19 in Toledo, Ohio, before heading to Jacksonville, Fla., for a multi-team event on Nov. 23-24. The opponents at the Jacksonville Classic will be announced at a later date.

Youngstown State closes out the month by hosting Chicago State the day after Thanksgiving on Nov. 28.

The Penguins also host USC-Upstate on Dec. 20 and will play Bryant & Stratton on Jan. 9. Both games will be at Zidian Family Arena.

2025-26 Non-Conference Opponent Capsules:

PITT – Nov. 3

This will be the 10th meeting between the Penguins and Panthers, who went 17-15 last season, and the first since 2018-19. It also marks the fifth matchup at the Petersen Events Center.

The game also marks the third time Youngstown State will face Pittsburgh as members of the ACC. In the three previous meetings, the Panthers were members of the Big East.

Pittsburgh leads the all-time series, 8-1 and has won the last five contests. The Panthers defeated the Penguins 69-53.

GRAND CANYON – Nov. 7

This is the first meeting between Youngstown State and Grand Canyon, who finished with 26-8 record in 2024-25 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The matchup is the first time Youngstown State will play Arizona and just the second game against a school from the state. YSU lost to Northern Arizona, 49-45, on March 4, 1947, in Kansas City, Mo.

PENN STATE-SHENANGO – Nov. 10

This is just the second meeting between the Penguins and Lions. Last season, Youngstown State defeated PSU-Shenango, 112-63. Lions Head Coach Michael Wernicki served as an assistant coach at Youngstown State from 2005-17.

ST. BONAVENTURE – Nov. 15

The Penguins and Bonnies, who went 22-12 last season, have met seven times previously, but this is the first meeting in nearly 20 years. Youngstown State and St. Bonaventure last meet on Dec. 10, 2005, when the Bonnies knocked off the Guins, 66-55, in St. Bonaventure, N.Y. The Bonnies own a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series.

TOLEDO – Nov. 19

Youngstown State and Toledo have 14 times previously, and the Rockets own an 11-3 advantage in the all-time series. The Penguins snapped a three-game losing streak after knocking off the Rockets, 93-87, on Dec. 14, 2024, at Zidian Family Arena. Youngstown State has never won in Toledo or at Savage Arena.

CHICAGO STATE – Nov. 28

The Penguins host the Cougars for the first time since 2001, and Chicago State returns the second-half of a home-and-home. Youngstown State owns a 14-8 advantage in the all-time series after defeating Chicago State, 80-60, on Nov. 9, 2024.

THIEL – Dec. 14

This is the 19th meeting between Youngstown State and Thiel and the first since 2019. The Penguins own a 14-4 advantage in the all-time series.

USC-UPSTATE – Dec. 20

This is the first time in program history the Penguins have hosted USC-Upstate in the all-time series between the schools. Youngstown State owns a 2-0 advantage in the series after knocking off the Spartans, 72-64, on Dec. 21, 2024, in Spartanburg, S.C.

BRYANT & STRATTON – Jan. 9

This is the first time the Penguins will meet Bryant and Stratton.