The Idaho State men’s basketball team will be tested early this season.

The Bengals, who have 13 new players on their 15-man roster, will open the season with four straight road games, beginning Nov. 2 at Utah State. That will be followed by contests at Wyoming Nov. 6, Air Force Nov. 8 and Seattle University Nov. 14.

“It’s a very tough schedule,” said ISU coach Ryan Looney, whose team finished 13-20 overall, 5-13 in Big Sky play last year. “Especially with four games on the road to start. Our group will be ready for the challenge.”

The Bengals will get their first home game Nov. 20, when South Dakota State visits Reed Gym. The Jackrabbits are coming off a 14-18 season overall, 7-9 in the Summit League. SDSU is visiting Pocatello as part of the pared-down Big Sky-Summit League Challenge, which has been reduced to four teams from each league.

ISU then returns to the road, playing at Boise State Nov. 24, before returning home for a contest with Division III Azusa Pacific on Nov. 28.

The Bengals are then off for nearly two weeks before returning to action at home Dec. 10 against Cal State Fullerton, who finished 18-16 overall, 12-8 in the Big West last year, and Dec. 12 against Justice University, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.

ISU’s final non-conference road trip is Dec. 17 at UC Davis, followed by a game at North Dakota State Dec. 20, also part of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge.

The Bengals finish non-conference play at home Dec. 28 with Northwest Indian College.

“South Dakota State and Cal State Fullerton should be fun D-1 home games for our fans,” said Looney. “The travel is good. Many of the locations are relatively easy to get to.”

Idaho State, like all conference schools, is still waiting for the Big Sky to issue a schedule for league games. The Big Sky welcomes Utah Tech and Southern Utah to the league this year, while Sacramento State has departed. Both the Big Sky men’s and women’s tournaments will be played in Boise March 3-8, 2027.