ACC Reveals 18-Game Men's Basketball Schedule Without Duke-Miami Matchup

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has unveiled its 2025-26 men's basketball schedule, reducing conference games to 18 and introducing a secondary partner system that changes annually. Notably, North Carolina and NC State, long-time rivals, will meet only once this season with no home game for UNC against NC State for the first time since 1919, sparking concerns about losing traditional rivalries that fuel fan engagement. Duke will play North Carolina and Louisville twice, but will not face Miami, while Louisville will play Duke and SMU twice and miss Florida State in the regular season. North Carolina will host key teams including Duke and Syracuse twice and participate in notable nonconference games, aiming to reclaim ACC dominance. The scheduling changes aim to increase NCAA tournament bids but face criticism for potentially sacrificing emotionally charged matchups like the UNC-NC State rivalry. Louisville, with new coach Pat Kelsey, is positioned as a strong contender to challenge Duke's dominance in the conference.