Wake Forest Athletics
Men’s Basketball to Face Mississippi State in 2026 Battle 4 Atlantis Opener
8/31/2026 12:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Matchups, game times and television coverage announced for 2026 Battle 4 Atlantis
PARADISE ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS – The Wake Forest men's basketball team will face Mississippi State to open the 2026 Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas, as matchups were announced for the Thanksgiving-week tournament Monday.
The Demon Deacons and Bulldogs will square off at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, on ESPN2 inside Imperial Arena on Paradise Island. Wake Forest will then face either Memphis or Penn State on Friday, Nov. 27, at either 1:30 or 7:30 p.m. on the ESPN family of networks.
Wake Forest and Mississippi State will meet for the first time since 1997 and the fifth time in program history. The Demon Deacons are 3-1 all-time against the Bulldogs, with the last meeting being a 74-43 Wake Forest victory on Dec. 3, 1997 in East Rutherford, N.J. Mississippi State has made three NCAA Tournament appearances in the last four years.
A meeting with Memphis in the second game of the Battle 4 Atlantis would mark the second-straight season that the Tigers and Demon Deacons have matched up, as Wake Forest took down Memphis 69-68 in last season's Baha Mar Championship courtesy of a perfectly executed end-to-end play with 1.5 seconds remaining. Wake Forest and Penn State have the potential to meet for the first time since the 2019 Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
About Battle 4 Atlantis
Celebrating its 15th year of elite collegiate competition, the 2026 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament will feature an adjusted format of two groups of four teams, with Wake Forest's group consisting of Memphis, Mississippi State and Penn State. Battle 4 Atlantis brings together some of the nation's best programs under one roof at the Imperial Arena, delivering the kind of high-stakes early-season competition that has made this event a Thanksgiving tradition. More information on travel packages, tournament tickets and on-site accommodations can be found here.
The Demon Deacons and Bulldogs will square off at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, on ESPN2 inside Imperial Arena on Paradise Island. Wake Forest will then face either Memphis or Penn State on Friday, Nov. 27, at either 1:30 or 7:30 p.m. on the ESPN family of networks.
Wake Forest and Mississippi State will meet for the first time since 1997 and the fifth time in program history. The Demon Deacons are 3-1 all-time against the Bulldogs, with the last meeting being a 74-43 Wake Forest victory on Dec. 3, 1997 in East Rutherford, N.J. Mississippi State has made three NCAA Tournament appearances in the last four years.
A meeting with Memphis in the second game of the Battle 4 Atlantis would mark the second-straight season that the Tigers and Demon Deacons have matched up, as Wake Forest took down Memphis 69-68 in last season's Baha Mar Championship courtesy of a perfectly executed end-to-end play with 1.5 seconds remaining. Wake Forest and Penn State have the potential to meet for the first time since the 2019 Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
About Battle 4 Atlantis
Celebrating its 15th year of elite collegiate competition, the 2026 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament will feature an adjusted format of two groups of four teams, with Wake Forest's group consisting of Memphis, Mississippi State and Penn State. Battle 4 Atlantis brings together some of the nation's best programs under one roof at the Imperial Arena, delivering the kind of high-stakes early-season competition that has made this event a Thanksgiving tradition. More information on travel packages, tournament tickets and on-site accommodations can be found here.
Monday, August 31
Friday, August 28
Wednesday, August 26
Tuesday, August 25