NICEVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Northwest Florida State Raiders and the Southern Union State Bison will tip off their new seasons against each other on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at the Raider Classic.

Both teams enter the contest with 0-0 records, looking to start the men’s junior college basketball season with a victory. The game marks the first action for both programs since their 2024 postseason departures.

Northwest Florida State last took the court in a 87-73 loss at Barton on March 27, 2024. Southern Union State’s most recent game was a 84-64 defeat at Bishop State on March 8, 2024.

The non-conference matchup is the first of three scheduled meetings between the two teams during the 2025-26 season. They are slated to play again in Alabama on Nov. 20, 2025, and will conclude their series back in Niceville on Dec. 2, 2025.

The Raiders’ early schedule includes a home game against Baton Rouge on Nov. 1, 2025. The Bison will travel back to Alabama to host East Mississippi on Nov. 1, 2025.