Inside the most absurd nonconference schedule: Why Mississippi Valley State has no home games for two months

CBS Sports ^ | September 24, 2026 | Isaac Trotter

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

Want to know how the lights stay on at the low-major ranks of college basketball? Mississippi Valley State's 2026-27 nonconference schedule tells the tale. The Delta Devils -- fresh off a miserable 3-30 season -- will not play a home game until Jan. 9. Instead, they have 16 consecutive road games to kick-start the 2026-27 schedule with buy games galore.

Mississippi Valley State will earn upward of $100,000 apiece to get smoked by the likes of Oklahoma, Washington, Oregon, Arkansas, Michigan, UConn, Ohio State, Texas Tech and Baylor.

Yep, you read that right. The stacked schedule includes matchups against the reigning national champion and reloaded Michigan Wolverines and the title game runner-up Connecticut Huskies, who return their star backcourt of Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins.

For two straight months, the Delta Devils will travel seemingly nonstop to all corners of the country to face Power Five opponents.

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TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: corruption; jobber; ncaa

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

The best example of what they call in fake wrestling "jobbers".

The Delta Devils, known for football wide receiver Jerry Rice, is now Jobber U.

Imagine pro wrestling where you find the jobber and you have the jobber wrestling each of their superstars, losing every time.

That's what we see here. You see them on the card, you understand their role.

[Red Badger]

“...with buy games galore.”.............Who writes this trash?........

[ZOOKER]

As a player fresh out of HS, would you consider a scholarship from this college?
Can't see it being good for a career in sports.

[libertylover]

I wonder if there’s more to the story. My school only had 1-2 “home” games, played in a smaller school’s gym, last year until January, but the reason was that the arena was under renovation. It’s nice now.

[crusty old prospector]

That is a lot of bus rides.

[dfwgator]

The college version of The Washington Generals.

[T-Bird45]

Even more important than the bus rides is the time away from class. You know, the main idea behind going to college??? I know that’s quaint in today’s sports environment but I’m old.

[pburiak]

A “Buy Game” is where a small college goes on the road in football or basketball to play at a major college powerhouse, with the likelihood of absorbing a huge loss in exchange for a huge payday.

Obviously the visitor’s share of payment for a game at Michigan, Ohio State etc. is a lot more than at another small southern HBCU for Mississippi Valley.

So, the bigger school “buys” a 99% guaranteed win, the smaller school gets to play on national TV in front of a big crowd, and takes home a six-figure paycheck to help fund their athletic department.

As long as nobody gets a serious injury and nobody’s pride is hurt via a 40-50 point loss to the powerhouse, it’s a win win situation.

[whitney69]

“...would you consider a scholarship from this college?”

Something to think about is that this team is a record packing team. They get on schedules because they are not expected to win and give the people they play a better looking win/loss record to be considered for tournaments at the holidays and the end of the season.

So if you can get into a game with those top teams and look great, it adds to your worth by scouts for the NBA, overseas, and possible transferring to other colleges that get more TV time and more exposure against teams like you were on so you can shine further for that pro contract. For the players looking for that career, this team is an investment. They would be those scholorship players.

wy69

[pburiak]

My son’s former HS basketball coach played in a game like that about 20 years ago.

Coach played at a small private school and went on the road to face a Power 5 team early in the season.

They got smoked, but he scored 12 points, played in a first-class arena with all the amenities, was on the floor with a future NBA draft pick, and highlights of the game were on ESPN SportsCenter.

Said it was one of the greatest experiences of his life even though they lost by 50.

[KarlInOhio]

But sometimes teams like Western Michigan forget the script and the replay official has to correct the result.

[crusty old prospector]

I am sure there is one tutor per student.

[T-Bird45]

“… one tutor per student.”

Perhaps if this was a D-1 school but paying those tutors cuts into the take from all those road games.

[Tell It Right]

“...with buy games galore.”.............Who writes this trash?........

The same people who write "Power Five opponents" instead of "Power Four" as though the Pac-12 is still a thing.

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

In basketball, there are five power conferences. The Big East is the basketball-only power conference.

[whitney69]

“Said it was one of the greatest experiences of his life even though they lost by 50.”

Pro scouts don’t care about the score. If a small college team can get in with a competitive national level team and a player does well, that’s the diamond in the rough they are always looking for. And that’s, also, why the colleges invented the transfer portal. Winning fills the seats and raises the revenues.

wy69