Duke fans continue extreme tradition for college basketball tickets

by January 23, 2026

written by January 23, 2026

In North Carolina, the Duke-North Carolina rivalry is as big as it gets in the college basketball landscape every season.

However, this year’s matchup is shaping up to be more massive than usual with both ACC programs ranked in the top 25. That includes the Duke Blue Devils current holding the number five rank with a record of 17-1.

Jon Scheyer’s team has received significant attention this season for its electric start to the 2025-26 campaign, and now students are doing whatever it takes to lock up tickets for their rivalry game against North Carolina.

The catch is that their next meeting with North Carolina at Cameron Indoor isn’t until March. That hasn’t stopped Duke fans from camping out though nearly two months in advance.

During Mike Kryzewski’s final season with the Blue Devils, fans started to camp out in order to secure tickets to see the team. However, that tradition is now carrying over as Duke hopes to continue another stellar season.

Sports reporter Joe Pompliano detailed how 12-person tents have been set up so that diehard students can alternate schedules of sleeping outside to brave the ticket craze.

In 2025, Duke reached the Final Four after Cooper Flagg and Co. proved to be a dominant force throughout March Madness.