SEWARD, Neb. – The annual Cattle Classic has reached year 27. Once again, the basketball classic features a total of four men’s games and four women’s games over the course of the two-day (Nov. 6-7) extravaganza. The event, co-sponsored by Concordia and Cattle Bank & Trust, raises money and food for the Blue Valley Community Action's Food Pantry and other local food pantries. Pac N Save of Seward will match all canned food donations.
Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods in exchange for admission. Ten canned items will get an adult a weekend pass. Complete admission information for the Cattle Classic can be found HERE. Tickets will not be sold online for this particular event.
The Cattle Classic celebrated its 26th year in 2025. Last year’s Cattle Classic raised 12,627 cans of food and $3,174 in cash, bringing the 26-year totals to 166,234 canned food items and $45,267.75.
Live webcasts: Concordia Sports Network | Live stats: PrestoStats
2026 CATTLE CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 6
- Women: Dakota Wesleyan University vs. Dakota State University, 2 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. Montana Technological University, 4 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Maharishi International University, 6 p.m.
- Men: Hastings College vs. Judson University (Ill.), 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 7
- Women: Dakota Wesleyan University vs. Montana Technological University, 10 a.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. Dakota State University, 12 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Judson University (Ill.), 2 p.m.
- Men: Hastings College vs. Maharishi International University, 4 p.m.
The Men’s Field
No. 19 Concordia University Bulldogs
Head Coach: Ben Limback, 14th season
2025-26 Record: 19-12
2026-27 Record: 1-1
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Seward, Nebraska
Top Player: A First Team All-GPAC honoree last season, Brooks Kissinger was lauded by NAIA Hoops Report as a national player of the year candidate. The 6-foot-3 senior guard from Ashland, Neb., averaged 22.1 points per game last season and added his name to the program’s list of 1,000-point scorers.
Overview: As the GPAC’s preseason favorite, Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad has high hopes for what can be achieved in 2026-27. The Bulldogs are well-stocked with returning talent as Brooks Kissinger is joined in the backcourt by fellow All-GPAC veterans in Dane Jacobsen and Jaxon Stueve. Uniquely, Concordia starts three players from the same high school, Ashland-Greenwood High School: Kissinger, Jacobsen and freshman Derek Tonjes. The early returns were encouraging as the Bulldogs opened the season this past week on the road, going 1-1 against KCAC foes. Concordia toppled Kansas Wesleyan University, 89-61, and then fell at Bethel College, 81-74.
Hastings College Broncos
Head Coach: Todd Raridon, 5th season
2025-26 Record: 8-21
2026-27 Record: 2-0
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Hastings, Nebraska
Top Player: The team’s lone returning All-GPAC award winner is Maverick Binder, a junior guard out of Auburn, Neb. Last season, Binder averaged 12.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists while starting all 29 games.
Overview: A former 15-year head coach at Nebraska Wesleyan, Todd Raridon is in his fifth season leading the Broncos. Raridon guided the 2023-24 Broncos to GPAC regular season and tournament championships and to an appearance at the national tournament. After GPAC Player of the Year Reggie Thomas transferred to an NCAA Division I program, Hastings posted records of 5-22 in 2024-25 and 8-21 in 2025-26. While opening up the 2026-27 campaign this past weekend in Mitchell, S.D., Hastings earned wins over Valley City State University (N.D.), 84-81, and Bethany College (Kan.), 73-66.
Judson University Eagles
Head Coach: Rick Williams, 2nd season
2025-26 Record: 5-23
2026-27 Record: 0-3
Conference: Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
Location: Elgin, Illinois
Top Player: 5-foot-9 senior guard Bronson Bartuch is the team’s leading returning scorer. He averaged 9.8 points and 2.5 steals per game last season. Bartuch has compiled 464 points in 57 career games played.
Overview: Judson hopes to make a jump in Rick Williams’ second season as head coach. This past 2025-26 campaign, the Eagles went 2-18 in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play. Judson has retooled the roster after saying goodbye to its top three scorers from that squad. At 0-3 to begin 2026-27, the Eagles have fallen at the hands of Great Lakes Christian, Goshen College (Ind.) and Taylor University (Ind.).
Maharishi International University Pioneers
Head Coach: Romel Bryant, 1st season
2025-26 Record: N/A
2026-27 Record: 1-2
Affiliation: United States Collegiate Athletic Association
Location: Fairfield, Iowa
Top Player: Through three games, sophomore small forward KeeMaryon Hargrow is averaging 16.3 points per outing. He is shooting 51.2 percent from the field.
Overview: Located in Fairfield, Iowa, Maharishi International University was founded in 1971, but the institution’s athletic programs are recently adopted. In July, MIU announced that it had been accepted as a United States Collegiate Athletic Association member while continuing its path towards NAIA membership. Romel Bryant was hired as the school’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach in February 2026. Entering this week, the Pioneers are 1-3 with the win having come against NCAA Division III Buena Vista University. In that victory, KeeMaryon Hargrow paced the team with 28 points. MIU has already played one GPAC school. It fell at Mount Marty, 138-64, on Oct. 22.