As Duke basketball looks ahead to the 2025-26 season, head coach Jon Scheyer is constructing one of the most ambitious non-conference schedules in recent memory—preparing the Blue Devils for a postseason run and adapting to possible changes in the ACC landscape.
Scheyer has already secured six marquee matchups for next season, including high-profile neutral-site games against Texas (Charlotte), Kansas (New York), Arkansas (Chicago), and Michigan (Washington D.C.). Duke will also travel to Michigan State and is expected to participate in the ACC vs. SEC Challenge, likely on the road. Additionally, the Blue Devils will face Army on Veterans Day, continuing a three-year series with the Black Knights.
This aggressive scheduling strategy reflects a broader shift in focus, as the ACC considers reducing its conference slate from 20 to 18 games. The proposed change—first reported by CBS Sports—aims to encourage teams to schedule more high-profile non-conference matchups to enhance their NCAA Tournament résumés. While Duke traditionally doesn’t struggle in that regard, the program is seizing the opportunity to elevate its schedule further.
The ACC’s postseason performance has come under scrutiny after only four teams earned NCAA Tournament bids this year. The potential 18-game conference schedule, pending approval by ACC presidents and athletic directors in May, would open the door for teams to schedule up to 13 non-conference games, based on the NCAA’s 31-game regular season cap.
Duke’s approach appears proactive. The Blue Devils played five major non-conference games last season, along with six “buy games” against lower-tier opponents. Now, with six top-tier contests already scheduled for 2025-26—and a possible home-and-home series still in the works—Scheyer is preparing his team for a rugged but rewarding journey.
A prime example of this strategy’s success was Duke’s matchup against Illinois at Madison Square Garden this past February, which generated excitement and postseason-caliber intensity. Scheyer hopes to recreate that atmosphere with a midseason showdown against Michigan in Washington D.C.
Though the ACC’s scheduling decision is still pending, all signs point toward a reduced conference slate—and Duke is making sure it will be ready to take full advantage of it.
