Look, trying to pin down the st francis basketball schedule right now is a bit like trying to catch a greased pig. You've got different schools with the same name, a massive leap between divisions happening in real-time, and a schedule that looks more like a travel agent's fever dream than a standard sports calendar.
If you are looking for the "Terriers" of St. Francis Brooklyn, I've got bad news. They effectively vanished from the D1 map a couple of years ago. But for the Red Flash of Loretto, Pennsylvania, things are actually getting weirdly interesting.
The 2025-26 season is basically the "Last Dance" for St. Francis University (PA) in Division I. They’re moving to Division III and the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) starting in the fall of 2026. This means this current schedule is the final gauntlet of high-major blowouts and Northeast Conference (NEC) grinders.
The Red Flash Gauntlet: Breaking Down the Dates
Honestly, the non-conference portion of the st francis basketball schedule this year was brutal. They started off taking checks and taking lumps against some massive programs. We’re talking about trips to Norman to face Oklahoma and a November 6th date with TCU that went exactly how you’d expect—a 104-63 reality check.
But if you’re trying to catch a game now, the focus has shifted entirely to the NEC slate. This is where the Red Flash actually have a pulse.
- January 17, 2026: They host Central Connecticut State (CCSU) at DeGol Arena. Tip-off is at 2:00 PM.
- January 19, 2026: A quick turnaround for a Monday morning (9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST) home game against Stonehill.
- January 23, 2026: Chicago State comes to town.
- January 25, 2026: The team hits the road to West Haven to face New Haven.
It's a dense stretch. You’ve basically got a game every two or three days. If you're a fan in Loretto, you're spending a lot of time at DeGol Arena this month.
Why the Schedule Matters More This Year
Most people don't realize how much the "transfer portal era" has gutted mid-majors like St. Francis. The school basically said, "Enough." They're moving to D3 because travel costs to places like Chicago (Chicago State) or Boston (Stonehill) just don't make sense when you're also trying to compete with NIL money you don't have.
Because of this, every home game on the 2026 calendar feels like a bit of a wake. Or a celebration, depending on how you view it. The "Ugly Sweater Night" back on December 3rd against Penn State Shenango was a fun 100-41 blowout, but the real meat is these January and February conference matchups.
Managing the Confusion: Which St. Francis Are You Following?
This is where the Google searches get messy. If you're looking for the st francis basketball schedule and you see names like "Indiana East" or "Bethel," you’ve accidentally wandered into the NAIA world of the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Different school. Different vibe.
The Indiana Cougars are actually having a decent run in the Crossroads League, but their schedule is totally separate. They’ve got games against Huntington (Jan 14) and Mount Vernon Nazarene (Jan 24). If you're in Pennsylvania, don't drive to these. You'll be very disappointed.
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Then there’s the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois (the Fighting Saints). They play in the CCAC. Their schedule is also live right now, with games against Indiana University Northwest on January 17th.
Pro tip: Always check the mascot.
- Red Flash = Pennsylvania (NCAA D1... for now).
- Cougars = Indiana (NAIA).
- Fighting Saints = Illinois (NAIA).
Key Matchups to Watch Before the D1 Sunset
If you want to see the Red Flash before they disappear into the D3 world of the PAC (where they’ll start playing schools like Grove City and Westminster next year), you need to mark February on your calendar.
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The February 14th home game against Mercyhurst is a big one. Mercyhurst is the "new kid" in the NEC, and seeing them face the "old guard" of St. Francis is a weird passing of the torch.
Also, keep an eye on the February 19th and 21st homestands against LIU and Wagner. These are the classic NEC rivalries that are effectively ending. Wagner, in particular, has always been a thorn in the side of the Red Flash. Seeing them one last time in Loretto is worth the price of admission.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning on attending a game or following the rest of the st francis basketball schedule, here is what you actually need to do:
- Check the Venue: Almost all home games are at DeGol Arena in Loretto. It's an intimate, old-school gym. If you've never been, go this year. It won't feel the same once they're playing D3 ball.
- Streaming: If you can't make it to the mountains of PA, most NEC games are on NEC Front Row. It’s free. You don't need a crazy cable subscription for most of these.
- Tickets: Since the move to D3 was announced, there's a mix of nostalgia and apathy. You can usually snag tickets at the door, but for the final home games in late February, I'd buy them a week early on the SFU Athletics site.
- Watch the Standings: The Red Flash have struggled (they were 1-14 at one point in the women's bracket and not much better on the men's side), but the NEC tournament is a "everyone makes it" or "top 8" style affair depending on the year's specific rules. There’s always a chance for a miracle run in March.
Don't wait until 2027 to care about this program. The landscape of college sports is shifting, and St. Francis PA is the canary in the coal mine. Catch the Red Flash on the 2025-26 schedule while they're still playing the "big boys."