Sports
Navy Gets the Headline, as UWF’s Begins New Basketball Rivalries
The Argos’ first Division I schedule leads with a Naval Academy matchup, but a closer look at the 32-game slate reveals the games that will actually redefine UWF basketball.
The University of West Florida unveiled its 2026-27 men’s basketball schedule this week, and the athletic department’s press release did exactly what you’d expect: put Navy front and center. The Dec. 13 home game against the Naval Academy, presented by Navy Federal Credit Union, is an easy sell—Pensacola is home to Naval Air Station Pensacola and the Cradle of Naval Aviation, and a Midshipmen visit to the Field House writes its own headline.
As UWF steps into its first year of NCAA Division I competition, two other games could develop into regional rivalries—the University of South Alabama and…wait for it…Pensacola Christian College (I’m not kidding; National Christian College Athletic Association D2 school plays the Argos a week before the Midshipmen).
- UWF has a 3–12 career regular season record against South Alabama. The two teams last played in the regular season on Nov.22, 2006, with South Alabama winning 91–71. The Argo played an exhibition game against USA last fall, losing 88–76.
The rematches are the real story
UWF plays six ASUN Conference teams twice — once at home, once on the road, all within about a six-week window.
- North Florida: Jan. 14 home, Feb. 13 at UNF
- Jacksonville: Jan. 16 home, Feb. 11 at Jacksonville
- Stetson: Jan. 23 at Stetson, Feb. 18 home
- Florida Gulf Coast: Jan. 21 at FGCU, Feb. 20 home
- Queens: Jan. 9 home, Feb. 2 at Queens
- Lipscomb and Bellarmine: same home-then-away pattern in late January and February
Coach Tanner Smith called it “a very competitive schedule” built around “regional home and road games.”
What else is on the slate
The rest of the schedule is a mix of road trips to bigger programs — Florida International, South Florida, Tarleton State — and a stretch of home games in November and December against three National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II schools: Southeastern Baptist, Baptist University of Florida, and Pensacola Christian College.
- Season tickets are $200 and cover all UWF men’s and women’s home games. A $250 gift to the Argonaut Athletic Club gets fans the Argonaut Game Pass, good for general admission to all home games except football. Both are available at goargos.com/tickets.
The Field House itself is getting upgrades—courtside seating, new LED scorer’s tables, and an on-court projection system for pregame intros and in-game entertainment. Athletic Director Dave Scott framed it as part of building “an environment that reflects the momentum of the University.”
2026-27 UWF Men’s Basketball Home Schedule
- Nov. 2 — Southeastern Baptist (home)
- Nov. 6 — Florida International (@ FIU)
- Nov. 9 — Baptist University (home)
- Nov. 12 — Alabama A&M (@ Alabama A&M)
- Nov. 13 — Cleveland State (@ Alabama A&M)
- Nov. 17 — Wisconsin Green Bay (home)
- Nov. 20 — South Alabama (@ South Alabama)
- Nov. 25 — Northwestern State (@ Northwestern State)
- Dec. 2 — South Florida (@ USF)
- Dec. 5 — Pensacola Christian College (home)
- Dec. 13 — Navy (home)
- Dec. 16 — Alabama State (home)
- Dec. 19 — West Georgia (@ West Georgia)
- Dec. 21 — North Alabama (@ North Alabama)
- Dec. 28 — Tarleton State (@ Tarleton State)
- Dec. 31 — Eastern Kentucky (home)
- Jan. 2 — Austin Peay (home)
- Jan. 9 — Queens (home)
- Jan. 14 — North Florida (home)
- Jan. 16 — Jacksonville (home)
- Jan. 21 — Florida Gulf Coast (@ FGCU)
- Jan. 23 — Stetson (@ Stetson)
- Jan. 28 — Lipscomb (home)
- Jan. 30 — Bellarmine (home)
- Feb. 2 — Queens (@ Queens)
- Feb. 11 — Jacksonville (@ Jacksonville)
- Feb. 13 — North Florida (@ UNF)
- Feb. 18 — Stetson (home)
- Feb. 20 — Florida Gulf Coast (home)
- Feb. 25 — Bellarmine (@ Bellarmine)
- Feb. 27 — Lipscomb (@ Lipscomb)