Duke MBB Scheduling: 2025-26

[Dr. Maturin]

It's shaping up to be another strong OOC slate. It's also going to be the 3rd straight year without a major MTE (we played in the Phil Knight event in Jon's first year, and that may have been finalized before he fully took over). It's an interesting approach. Other coaches (namely Dan Hurley) have publicly stated that they no longer want to play in those events. I'm not aware of anything Jon has said publicly but his actions have been pretty clear.

As a fan, I have enjoyed watching Duke in these events. There's a trophy to play for and it adds texture to the early season. But I get it. Coaches want the certainty of games on their schedule, and Duke has the leverage to schedule top teams in top locations without committing to a big MTE.

 

[blazindw]

I imagine this was 100 percent coordinated by @blazindw (edit: and @scottdude8. Can't forget Scott!)

I can say I didn't do this. But I also didn't not do this.

 

[kmmk]

I can say I didn't do this. But I also didn't not do this.

Thanks for clarifying! I mean, I firmly believe you have the power to make things happen so you never know! But I'm thrilled that it's the best of three worlds for you: Duke, Michigan and D.C.

 

[blazindw]

Thanks for clarifying! I mean, I firmly believe you have the power to make things happen so you never know! But I'm thrilled that it's the best of three worlds for you: Duke, Michigan and D.C.

I think the best part for me is always the fact that I only require a 10 minute trip from my apartment to see my team play. Need to get that W tho!

 

[-jk]

I think the best part for me is always the fact that I only require a 10 minute trip from my apartment to see my team play. Need to get that W tho!

And a much easier train ride for me than MSG is!

-jk

 

[DU82]

And a much easier train ride for me than MSG is!

-jk

It is as long as WMATA doesn't single track the red line!

 

[jam]

Next season's schedule:

• 11-7/8-25: vs. Western Carolina
• 11-11-25: @Army (home-and-home)
• 11-18-25: Kansas - New York City (Champions Classic)
• 11-27-25: Arkansas - Chicago (CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic)
• @Michigan State (home-and-home?)
• 2-26: Michigan - Washington, D.C.
• ACC-SEC Challenge (away?)

I added in Western Carolina.

Looking beyond next season:

2026-2027:

• Michigan State (Champions Classic)
• vs. Army (home-and-home)
• Kansas (home-and-home)
• ACC-SEC Challenge (home?)

2027-2028:

• 11-11/12-27: Arizona - Las Vegas (Hall of Fame Series)
• Kentucky (Champions Classic)
• Kansas (home-and-home)
• ACC-SEC Challenge (away?)

2028-2029

• Kansas (Champions Classic)
• ACC-SEC Challenge (home?)

 

[crote]

It's shaping up to be another strong OOC slate. It's also going to be the 3rd straight year without a major MTE (we played in the Phil Knight event in Jon's first year, and that may have been finalized before he fully took over). It's an interesting approach. Other coaches (namely Dan Hurley) have publicly stated that they no longer want to play in those events. I'm not aware of anything Jon has said publicly but his actions have been pretty clear.

As a fan, I have enjoyed watching Duke in these events. There's a trophy to play for and it adds texture to the early season. But I get it. Coaches want the certainty of games on their schedule, and Duke has the leverage to schedule top teams in top locations without committing to a big MTE.

Seems to be a trend. Arizona recently announced a home and home with UConn, with the reporting suggesting Tommy Lloyd prefers that model to MTEs. I love the "Feast Week" tournaments, but they may be on the wane (at least the version where the fields are stocked with top teams, anyway).

 

[scottdude8]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1918319935572287540

Copying this over here to the 2025-26 specific thread.

Love it. Love Jon's strategy of making sure his team gets a tough road test in the non-conference. Also a good year to do this, as MSU profiles as a "good not great" team this coming season—they return a lot of front court pieces, but have big questions in the backcourt with Jace Richardson going to the draft and Tre Holloman transferring to NC State.

Updated non-conference schedule edited to include everything we know, with likely Q1 games bolded:

• @Army (Nov 11)
• Kansas in Champions Classic at MSG (neutral site, Nov. 18)
• Arkansas in Chicago (neutral site, Thanksgiving)
• SEC-ACC Challenge game (?, December)
• @Michigan State (road, December)
• Michigan in DC (neutral site, February)

This makes it seem more likely that the SEC-ACC Challenge game will be in Cameron... and if not, maybe Jon schedules an additional marquee non-conference game at home particularly if the ACC schedule is down to 18 games.

 

[TKG]

With Jon “No Fear” Scheyer putting together such OOC schedules, what incremental value is there to playing the Holes; other than we are obligated to do so as conference members? Let conference realignment fall as it may.

 

[gumbomoop]

Copying this over here to the 2025-26 specific thread.

Love it. Love Jon's strategy of making sure his team gets a tough road test in the non-conference. Also a good year to do this, as MSU profiles as a "good not great" team this coming season—they return a lot of front court pieces, but have big questions in the backcourt with Jace Richardson going to the draft and Tre Holloman transferring to NC State.

Updated non-conference schedule edited to include everything we know, with likely Q1 games bolded:

• @Army (Nov 11)
• Kansas in Champions Classic at MSG (neutral site, Nov. 18)
• Arkansas in Chicago (neutral site, Thanksgiving)
• SEC-ACC Challenge game (?, December)
• @Michigan State (road, December)
• Michigan in DC (neutral site, February)

This makes it seem more likely that the SEC-ACC Challenge game will be in Cameron... and if not, maybe Jon schedules an additional marquee non-conference game at home particularly if the ACC schedule is down to 18 games.

Not sure if we know this, but jam posted ^ [#27] that Duke will play W. Carolina in early Nov.

 

[ThirdDevil]

Per Jon Rothstein, Duke nearing agreement to play Texas in Charlotte in November.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1918340724572975505

Duke is scheduling the way an elite program stuck in a mid-major conference should.

 

[MChambers]

With Jon “No Fear” Scheyer putting together such OOC schedules, what incremental value is there to playing the Holes; other than we are obligated to do so as conference members? Let conference realignment fall as it may.

Especially when UNCheat simply isn't very good. Borderline tournament team.

 

[howardlander]

Copying this over here to the 2025-26 specific thread.

Love it. Love Jon's strategy of making sure his team gets a tough road test in the non-conference. Also a good year to do this, as MSU profiles as a "good not great" team this coming season—they return a lot of front court pieces, but have big questions in the backcourt with Jace Richardson going to the draft and Tre Holloman transferring to NC State.

Updated non-conference schedule edited to include everything we know, with likely Q1 games bolded:

• @Army (Nov 11)
• Kansas in Champions Classic at MSG (neutral site, Nov. 18)
• Arkansas in Chicago (neutral site, Thanksgiving)
• SEC-ACC Challenge game (?, December)
• @Michigan State (road, December)
• Michigan in DC (neutral site, February)

This makes it seem more likely that the SEC-ACC Challenge game will be in Cameron... and if not, maybe Jon schedules an additional marquee non-conference game at home particularly if the ACC schedule is down to 18 games.

Is there talk of the ACC schedule going to 18 games?

 

[tommy]

Copying this over here to the 2025-26 specific thread.

Love it. Love Jon's strategy of making sure his team gets a tough road test in the non-conference. Also a good year to do this, as MSU profiles as a "good not great" team this coming season—they return a lot of front court pieces, but have big questions in the backcourt with Jace Richardson going to the draft and Tre Holloman transferring to NC State.

Updated non-conference schedule edited to include everything we know, with likely Q1 games bolded:

• @Army (Nov 11)
• Kansas in Champions Classic at MSG (neutral site, Nov. 18)
• Arkansas in Chicago (neutral site, Thanksgiving)
• SEC-ACC Challenge game (?, December)
• @Michigan State (road, December)
• Michigan in DC (neutral site, February)

This makes it seem more likely that the SEC-ACC Challenge game will be in Cameron... and if not, maybe Jon schedules an additional marquee non-conference game at home particularly if the ACC schedule is down to 18 games.

The ACC-SEC challenge game was in Cameron last year. Generally, I think they try to alternate the home/road in these events. I would expect us to play either Alabama, Florida, or Tennessee this year in the challenge. I'd prefer a road challenge myself.

 

[tommy]

Per Jon Rothstein, Duke nearing agreement to play Texas in Charlotte in November.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1918340724572975505

Duke is scheduling the way an elite program stuck in a mid-major conference should.

Awesome. This is the kind of OOC schedule I have wanted us to play for a long time.

 

[gumbomoop]

The ACC-SEC challenge game was in Cameron last year. Generally, I think they try to alternate the home/road in these events. I would expect us to play either Alabama, Florida, or Tennessee this year in the challenge. I'd prefer a road challenge myself.

Any reason UK in Lexington wouldn’t be a possibility, too? Duke-UK don’t play in the Champions Classic again until ‘27-‘28.

 

[TKG]

Per Jon Rothstein, Duke nearing agreement to play Texas in Charlotte in November.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1918340724572975505

Duke is scheduling the way an elite program stuck in a mid-major conference should.

Scheyer scheduling a game in Chapel Hill - West. No Fear. He’s a bad man!

 

[duke2x]

Any reason UK in Lexington wouldn’t be a possibility, too? Duke-UK don’t play in the Champions Classic again until ‘27-‘28.

You are only guaranteed 1 home game in each 2-year cycle unless you are UNC. Nothing prohibits you from getting AHHA or HAAH instead of HAHA or AHAH. It's the only way you can guarantee you can theoretically play everybody in the SEC. Since this series is a money-making ploy for ESPN, I think UK or UF in Cameron is likely.

All of this news pretty much guarantees the ACC will be 18 games next year instead of 20.

 

[scottdude8]

Not sure if we know this, but jam posted ^ [#27] that Duke will play W. Carolina in early Nov.

Yeah, I couldn’t find an explicit source for this… if anyone finds that please let me know!

Updated non-conference schedule edited to include everything we know, with likely Q1 games bolded:

• Texas in Charlotte (neutral site, Nov 4)
• @Army (Nov 11)
• Kansas in Champions Classic at MSG (neutral site, Nov. 18)
• Arkansas in Chicago (neutral site, Thanksgiving)
• SEC-ACC Challenge game (?, December)
• @Michigan State (road, December)
• Michigan in DC (neutral site, February)

Jon is clearly taking steps to up our scheduling game even further from last year’s gauntlet. I love it. And again, something tells me we’d be going after more borderline Q1/Q2 games rather than marquee matchups if our coach wasn’t supremely confident in his squad, which is very exciting in May.