By JAMES MADDEN
The non-conference slate across the country is projected to be stacked once again, as the 2026-27 season continues to inch closer.
While there are slated to be a multitude of games featuring some of the top programs in the country, December’s SEC/ACC Challenge matchup between Duke and Florida is the main event.
With both teams projected to be the top two seeds in the AP Preseason Top 25, it’ll be a rematch of last season’s matchup at the Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, in which No. 4 Duke prevailed over No. 9 Florida, 67-66.
A list of some of the sport’s top non-conference matchups across the nation is listed below.
- Duke @ Florida, December 1 (O’Connell Center – Gainesville, FL) – A rematch of a 2025 meeting in which Duke won, 67-66 and a part of the 2026 SEC/ACC Challenge
- UConn vs Duke, November 25 (T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, NV) – The two teams met in the Elite Eight in Washington, D.C. in 2026, with UConn advancing to the Final Four following a game-winning three-pointer from Braylon Mullins.
- Michigan State vs Duke, November 10 (United Center – Chicago, IL) – A part of the annual Champions Classic and a matchup between two of the most prestigious brands in the sport.
- Illinois @ Duke, November 17 (Cameron Indoor Stadium – Durham, NC) – Both teams are projected to land in the preseason top-three, with Illinois coming off its first Final Four appearance in 21 years.
- Michigan vs UConn, November 6 (TD Garden – Boston, MA) – A rematch of last season’s NCAA Tournament Championship, in which Michigan won 69-63 in Indianapolis. The Wolverines will be led by Mike Boynton, who’s in his first season as Michigan’s head coach following the departure of Dusty May for the Dallas Mavericks.
- Louisville @ Kentucky, December 12 (Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY) – One of college basketball’s most storied rivalries, with both programs entering next season in good standing. Louisville made offseason headlines for its gargantuan NIL spending, which featured additions of Kansas transfer Flory Bidunga and Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad.
- UConn @ Arizona, November 18 (McKale Center – Tucson, AZ) – With both teams fresh off Final Four appearances, it’ll shape up for an entertaining rematch of last year’s meeting in Storrs, which was won by Arizona.
- Michigan State vs Arkansas, November 26 (Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI) – This Thanksgiving day matchup will feature two Hall of Fame coaches, in what could be their final meeting with each other. John Calipari and Tom Izzo have faced each other seven times, with Izzo holding a narrow 4-3 lead.
- Michigan State @ Tennessee, November 17 (Food City Center – Knoxville, TN) – Izzo will once again face a fellow legendary head coach, with his Spartans traveling to Knoxville to face long-time head coach Rick Barnes and the Volunteers.
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