Wright State University, Big Hoopla announce return of Stars, Stripes and Flight Classic featuring Air Force Falcons

The Stars, Stripes and Flight Classic returns to the Nutter Center on Nov. 2, featuring the Wright State Raiders and the Air Force Falcons. (Photo by Wright State Athletics)

Wright State University and Big Hoopla are excited to announce the return of the Stars, Stripes and Flight Classic men’s basketball game, sponsored by Big Hoopla and supported by CareSource.

The game will be held Nov. 2 at the Nutter Center and will feature a competitive matchup between the Wright State Raiders and the Air Force Falcons, while also serving as the home opener for the defending Horizon League Champions and the start of another exciting basketball season in Dayton.

The 2026 game continues the vision launched in 2024 to bring Wright State University together with the Air Force Academy and, in future years, other military-connected institutions across the country. The inaugural Stars, Stripes and Flight Classic drew a strong crowd to the Nutter Center, highlighting the event’s community impact and strengthening Wright State’s connection to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

The highly anticipated game will bring fans from across the Miami Valley for a special night of college basketball while honoring Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force, veterans and active-duty military.

“Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has been woven into Wright State’s story since our very beginning, and that founding connection has only deepened over decades, becoming a partnership that means a great deal to both institutions and this community,” said Wright State President Sue Edwards. “The relationship is about more than institutions — it’s about being neighbors, and represents generations of people who have worked, served, studied and raised their families here, and the many ways Wright State and Wright-Patterson continue to support one another.”

This year’s event will also serve as the kickoff events for the Big Hoopla, building excitement for the activities surrounding the NCAA’s First Four games held in Dayton.

Tickets for the Nov. 2 Stars, Stripes and Flight Classic are available here.