A new season of Panther Basketball begins today as Prairie View A&M University welcomes Paul Quinn College to the William J. Nicks Building, affectionately known as the Baby Dome, for the 2026–27 season opener.

Prairie View A&M enters the season looking to build on one of the most historic campaigns in program history. Under 11th-year head coach Byron Smith, the Panthers finished the 2025–26 season with a 19-18 overall record and captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament Championship as the No. 8 seed. The championship run earned Prairie View A&M an NCAA Tournament berth and culminated in the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, a 67-55 win over Lehigh in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.

With much of last season's championship roster moving on, the Panthers enter the new campaign with a significantly restructured lineup. Elijah Mitchell is the lone returning player from last year's team, providing a connection to the historic championship season as Prairie View A&M begins a new chapter.

Paul Quinn College also enters the season under new leadership. The Tigers opened the 2026–27 campaign with an impressive 90-49 victory over Arlington Baptist University. The win marked the first career victory for head coach DiMario Jackson Sr. The Tigers controlled the contest with defensive pressure, rebounding dominance, and a balanced offensive attack, building a 46-28 halftime lead before finishing with a 41-point victory.

Both programs look to establish momentum early as Prairie View A&M begins its championship defense journey and Paul Quinn continues building under its first-year head coach.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. inside the William J. Nicks Building. Panther Nation is encouraged to pack the Baby Dome, wear purple and gold, and help welcome the Panthers back to the court for the season opener.