Ranking Duke basketball’s 2025-26 non-conference opponents from toughest to easiest

Duke basketball is no stranger to a tough non-conference slate.

The Blue Devils‘ 2025-26 non-conference slate consists of seven marquee matchups, including two trips to Madison Square Garden and a Thanksgiving showdown against Arkansas in Chicago.

Duke returns six members from its 35-4 season in 2024-25 where it won both the ACC regular season and tournament titles, making its 18th appearance in the NCAA Final Four. It welcomes the nation’s top-rated recruiting class for the second-straight season and brings in two transfer portal additions in Jon Scheyer’s fourth season at the helm.

Duke is scheduled to host Countdown to Craziness on Friday, Oct. 3 and has two exhibition games against UCF (Oct. 21) and Tennessee (Oct. 26) before officially opening its season on Tuesday, Nov. 4 vs. Texas in Charlotte.

Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Fayetteville Observer ranked the Blue Devils’ 13 non-conference opponents from toughest to easiest:

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1. vs Kansas, Nov. 18, Madison Square Garden

The Jayhawks narrowly defeated the Blue Devils 75-72 in a neutral-site meeting in Las Vegas last season, and any matchup between these programs is always competitive and high-profile.

2. vs Texas Tech, Dec. 20, Madison Square Garden

Duke’s second game at MSG in 2025 will be its third overall meeting with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are coming off a 28-9 finish last season with a trip to the Elite 8.

3. at Michigan State, Dec. 6

Tom Izzo always has his team prepared and a road game in East Lansing always provides a challenge.

4. vs Florida, Dec. 2

Duke takes on Florida as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium gives Duke an automatic edge over the reigning national champs.

5. vs Arkansas, Nov. 27, CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic

The Blue Devils will ring in Thanksgiving Day at United Center in Chicago, taking on John Calipari’s Razorbacks. Arkansas returns key experience from last year’s Sweet 16 squad while bringing in a top-5 recruiting class.

6. vs Texas, Nov. 4, Spectrum Center

It’ll be the first official debut for Duke in the post Cooper Flagg era in Charlotte. The Blue Devils have won all five of their meetings against the Longhorns.

7. vs. Michigan, Feb. 21, Capital One Arena

As part of the Duel in the District in Washington DC, Duke faces a strong Big Ten program in Michigan. The Blue Devils have dominated recent matchups, winning nine of their last 10 meetings against the Wolverines.

8. vs Indiana State, Nov. 14

Indiana State has shown it can be competitive mid-major team, but it will be outmatched by Duke, especially playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

9. at Army West Point, Nov. 11

The alma mater of coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke has won all nine of its contests against Army.

10. vs Western Carolina, Nov. 8

Duke’s first regular season home game to start the season, the Blue Devils should have no problems against the Catamounts.

11. vs Lipscomb, Dec. 16

The ASUN contenders make for an easy matchup at home for Duke.

12. vs Niagara, Nov. 21

Duke hosts Niagara and former Duke guard Greg Paulus as part of the Brotherhood Run, but the Purple Eagles should be no match for the loaded Blue Devils.

13. vs Howard, Nov. 23

It will be the first meeting between the Blue Devils and Bison in the Brotherhood Run. While Howard is coached by former Duke guard Kenny Blakeney, Duke outmatches the Bison.

Duke basketball non-conference schedule 2025-26

Oct. 3 Countdown to Craziness
Oct. 21 vs. UCF (Exhibition)
Oct. 26 vs. Tennessee (Exhibition)
Nov. 4 vs. Texas (Dick Vitale Invitational in Charlotte)
Nov. 8 vs. Western Carolina
Nov. 11 at Army West Point
Nov. 14 vs. Indiana State
Nov. 18 vs. Kansas (State Farm Championship Classic at Madison Square Garden)
Nov. 21 vs. Niagara (Brotherhood Run)
Nov. 23 vs. Howard (Brotherhood Run)
Nov. 27 vs. Arkansas (CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic)
Dec. 2 vs. Florida (ACC/SEC Challenge)
Dec. 20 vs. Texas Tech (Madison Square Garden)
Feb. 21 vs. Michigan (Duel in the District, Washington D.C.)

Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke basketball: Ranking non-conference opponents from toughest to easiest

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