FIELD OF 68 RETURNS MIDNIGHT TIP: HIGH POINT VS. LIBERTY TO OPEN NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL 2026–27 SEASON IN ROCK HILL
Rock Hill, SC. April 3rd, 2026 — The Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon will kick off the 2026–2027 college basketball season with a historic midnight tip on Monday, November 2, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. ET, when High Point University faces Liberty University at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, 326 Technology Center Way, Rock Hill, SC 29730. This game will be the first official tip of the 2026–27 season and marks the first scheduled midnight-season tip of the college basketball season since ESPN’s last midnight tip on November 15, 2016.
Event Details
- Game: High Point University vs. Liberty University
- Date & Time: Monday, November 2, 2026 — 12:00 a.m. ET (midnight)
- Venue: Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, 326 Technology Center Way, Rock Hill, SC 29730
- Significance: Official first tip of the 2026–27 college basketball season; first midnight tip since ESPN’s Nov. 15, 2016 kickoff.
- Host Partners: This event is hosted by Visit York County in partnership with Rock Hill Parks, Recreation & Tourism and Winthrop University.
Based on last year’s successful launch, the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon is a showcase event that celebrates the official start of the college basketball season with consecutive games, studio programming, and fan experiences. The 2025 edition featured three games including hometown team Winthrop University and three qualifiers for the NCAA tournament in High Point University, Furman University, and Queens University.
Jeff Goodman, Co-Founder of Field of 68 Media Network: "We are so excited to get a game of this magnitude to start the 24-hour marathon at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center. High Point was the lone true underdog to pull off a win in the NCAA tourney and Flynn Clayman is back, while Ritchie McKay has made this Liberty program one of the best mid-majors in the country. I just hope both of them take a nap sometime during the day."
Andy Clinton, President & CEO of Visit York County: “Visit York County is ready to build on a successful first year of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. Adding the midnight tip featuring two of the top mid-major programs in the country will continue to elevate this event and platform for our community.”
Further details on tickets, broadcast partners, and media credentials will be announced in the coming months via Field of 68 and Visit York County channels.
For sponsorship opportunities or more information, please contact Jordan McCraw at jmccraw@visityorkcounty.com