Overview
- Duke announced Friday that it finalized its 2026–27 nonconference schedule, including three preseason exhibitions and a Nov. 2 regular-season opener against Army.
- The preseason exhibitions are set for Belmont on Oct. 8, Tennessee on Oct. 20, and Kansas on Oct. 25 to close out Duke’s tune-up slate.
- The full nonconference calendar features multiple marquee neutral-site games, such as the Champions Classic in Chicago, the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden, and a Nov. 25 rematch with UConn in Las Vegas.
- Duke will face likely preseason top-five opponents — Florida on Dec. 1, UConn, and Illinois on Nov. 17 — matchups that CBS Sports and others say could move the AP poll and affect national title odds.
- Coming off a 35-3 season, the program enters the year with returning core players, the No. 2 recruiting class and three transfers, a combination that has Duke projected as a preseason No. 2 and a co-favorite with Florida to win the national title.