Duke Sets High-Stakes Nonconference Gauntlet
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The Blue Devils face a slate of top-five opponents, including Florida, UConn, and Illinois, as they enter a new era.
Duke has officially revealed its nonconference schedule for the 2026-27 season, featuring a series of high-profile matchups that CBS Sports reports could see the Blue Devils facing three preseason top-five opponents before ACC play begins.
According to CBS Sports, Duke is expected to be ranked No. 2 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, trailing Florida, which is ranked No. 1 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 preseason rankings. Both programs are currently co-favorites to win the 2027 national title per FanDuel Sportsbook. The Blue Devils will face Florida on Dec. 1 in Gainesville as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, a game that may feature Florida's Thomas Haugh, a candidate for preseason national player of the year.
Other early tests include matchups against No. 3 Illinois on Nov. 17 in Durham and No. 4 UConn on Nov. 25 in Las Vegas. The UConn game serves as a rematch of last season's Elite Eight and features Nikolas Khamenia, a former Duke recruit who transferred to UConn. Additionally, Duke will face Michigan State in the Champions Classic on Nov. 10 in Chicago, as well as Texas Tech on Dec. 21 in New York.
CBS Sports notes that Duke enters the season with one of the nation's deepest rosters, bolstered by the addition of former Wisconsin star John Blackwell via the transfer portal and incoming freshman Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje. Returning players include Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba II, Dame Sarr, and Cayden Boozer.