Orion180 Tip-Off Classic to Open the 2026 College Basketball Season at Benchmark International Arena

TAMPA, FL (June 1, 2026) – The 2026 men’s college basketball season will tip off in a major way as the inaugural Orion180 Tip-Off Classic comes to Benchmark International Arena on Monday, November 2, 2026, featuring a marquee opening-night doubleheader with the Florida Gators taking on the Miami Hurricanes, followed by the Florida State Seminoles facing the Florida A&M Rattlers.

 

The nationally televised opening night event will showcase four prominent Florida teams competing on one of the sport’s biggest early-season stages. Broadcast across the ESPN Family of Networks, the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic is expected to be one of the premier opening-night events in college basketball, bringing national attention to Tampa Bay and setting the tone for the 2026-27 season.

 

Florida enters the season as the preseason #1-ranked team in the country under head coach Todd Golden, bringing one of the nation’s premier programs and highest expectations into opening night. Miami Hurricanes men's basketball remains one of the ACC’s most recognizable brands, with a passionate fan base and a history of competing on the national stage. Florida State Seminoles men's basketball continues to be one of the flagship programs in the state and will look to open the season with a strong statement against an in-state opponent. Florida A&M Rattlers men's basketball adds a compelling storyline to the night as head coach Charlie Ward begins the season facing his alma mater, bringing an added level of excitement and emotion to an already marquee opening night doubleheader.

 

As title partner, insurance innovator Orion180 continues to strengthen its presence across major sports and entertainment properties throughout Florida and across the country, making the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic a natural extension of the company’s commitment to community engagement and premier live experiences, as well as its more personal, human-centric approach to insurance.

 

Tickets for the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic at Benchmark International Arena will go on sale beginning at 10:00 AM ET on June 8, 2026, with one ticket granting admission to both games of the doubleheader featuring Florida vs. Miami and Florida State vs. Florida A&M. The nationally televised showcase, airing across ESPN2 and the ESPN family of networks, will bring four of the state’s premier basketball programs together in downtown Tampa for one of the marquee opening-night events of the 2026 college basketball season. Additional details regarding premium hospitality experiences, fan events, and ticket offerings will be announced at a later date. The Orion180 Tip-Off Classic further solidifies Tampa Bay as one of the nation’s premier destinations for major non-conference college basketball events.

 

“We are thrilled to launch this annual event in partnership with Orion180, Visit Tampa Bay, Benchmark International Arena, and the University of Florida,” said Dan Shell, President of Total Sports Consulting. “To be able to launch this event with four great State of Florida institutions, a Florida-based title partner in Orion180, and on the opening night of the college basketball season with two nationally televised games is truly the perfect storm for a first-year event.”

 

“We are proud to be the founding title partner of the Florida Tip-Off Classic and look forward to celebrating the start of a new college basketball season right here in our home state,” said Ken Gregg, CEO and Founder of Orion180. “Florida has become a hub for growth and innovation in the insurance industry, and we see that same energy and momentum shaping the future of college basketball. We are thrilled to support an event that brings together elite competition, passionate fans, and the enduring spirit of sportsmanship.”

 

“Gator Nation gives us tremendous support throughout the state of Florida, and we’re excited to return to Tampa to open our season. Opening the year with a high-level matchup in an atmosphere like this is a great opportunity for our program and our fans, and we’re looking forward to being part of such a tremendous event,” said Todd Golden, Florida’s head men’s basketball coach.

 

The Florida Gators men's basketball team returns four starters and more than 80 percent of their scoring from the 2026 Southeastern Conference championship team, including All-American Thomas Haugh, Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu, and All-SEC performer Alex Condon. Florida has produced the three highest-scoring seasons in program history over the past three years, including a program-record 87.1 points per game during the 2025–26 campaign.

 

“Miami and Florida are a matchup that means a lot to people across the state,” said Jai Lucas. “To have the opportunity to open the season in Tampa, in front of both fan bases, is something we’re really excited about. It’s great for our program, great for our fans, and great for college basketball.” Miami is coming off a historic first season under Lucas, tying the NCAA record for the largest turnaround after finishing 26-9. The Hurricanes earned the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament following a 13-5 conference record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed. Miami returns starters Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson, who averaged 13.8 and 6.6 points per game, respectively. Henderson started all 35 games and ranked third nationally among freshmen in field goal percentage at 56.7%. They are joined by transfers Acaden Lewis, Somto Cyril, and DeSean Goode, along with McDonald’s All-American Caleb Gaskins.

 

“We’re thrilled to host the Florida Tip-Off Classic in Tampa this November and welcome these four prestigious universities and their fans to our world-class destination. Tampa Bay is no stranger to hosting marquee college basketball events, and this season-opening doubleheader, featuring some of the top programs and biggest rivals in the state, will provide another opportunity to showcase all that our community has to offer.”

 

“We couldn’t be more excited to host more elite basketball in Tampa Bay,” said Lanness Robinson, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “Coming off an unforgettable NCAA Women’s Final Four, a thrilling March Madness, and marquee non-conference matchups, having the Gators, Seminoles, Hurricanes, and FAMU competing in our backyard is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our destination while rolling out the red carpet for Florida’s top programs.”

Ticket Information

 

Tickets for the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic will go on sale beginning at 10:00 AM ET on June 8, 2026, and will be available online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the ReliaQuest Ticket Office at Benchmark International Arena exclusively on event days beginning three hours prior to the first scheduled game. Admission includes access to both games of the doubleheader. Premium hospitality packages, courtside seating, suites, and group sales opportunities will also be available. Advanced parking passes can be purchased through ParkWhiz.com. For additional event information, visit benchmarkintlarena.com or call 813.301.2500.