Northwestern will face Oklahoma State in Tulsa on Dec. 20, completing a two-year scheduling agreement after the Cowboys defeated the Wildcats 86-81 at the United Center last season.
Northwestern will get another opportunity to face Oklahoma State this season, but this time the Wildcats will travel to Tulsa.
Northwestern will face the Cowboys on Dec. 20 at BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as part of the Tulsa Hoops Showdown presented by Visit Tulsa. Tip time and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the event are scheduled to go on sale Oct. 22, with a one-day presale beginning Oct. 21.
The matchup is the second and final meeting of a two-year scheduling agreement between the two programs.
The first meeting took place last season at the United Center in Chicago. Oklahoma State defeated Northwestern 86-81 on Nov. 27, 2025, during the Thanksgiving Classic in what was the first matchup between the two programs.
Nick Martinelli led Northwestern with 28 points and 10 rebounds in that game. Despite Martinelli's strong performance, the Wildcats couldn't overcome the Cowboys and dropped the five-point contest.
Nov 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Christian Coleman (4) drives to the basket against Northwestern Wildcats forward Nick Martinelli (2) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesThis year's matchup will have a much different look for Northwestern.
Martinelli has since moved on from Evanston after serving as one of the Wildcats' most important offensive players. His departure leaves Northwestern looking for new players to step into larger roles and help replace his production.
That makes the Oklahoma State matchup an intriguing early-season test.
The Wildcats will have several opportunities throughout the season to see how their new-look roster performs against quality competition. Playing the Cowboys in a neutral-site environment will provide another chance to make an impression.
Unlike last year's game, Northwestern will now travel outside of Chicago for the matchup. While BOK Center will not be a true home environment for either team, Oklahoma State will have the benefit of playing much closer to home.
For Northwestern, the game also provides another chance to show how the program has developed since last season.
The Wildcats will have to replace Martinelli's scoring and leadership while continuing to build an identity around the players returning to Evanston. The emergence of younger players and newcomers will be especially important as Northwestern looks to remain competitive in the Big Ten.
The game could also serve as a measuring stick for the Wildcats as the season progresses.
Northwestern wasn't able to come away with a victory against Oklahoma State at the United Center last season. With a different roster and another year of development, the Wildcats will have a chance to change the result when the teams meet again in Tulsa.
Oklahoma State already has a win over Northwestern in the series. Now, the Wildcats will look to even the score while giving their new-look roster another opportunity to perform on a bigger stage.
