No. 4 Duke Visits No. 14 North Carolina in Rivalry Matchup

The 266th meeting between the Blue Devils and Tar Heels takes place on Saturday night at the Smith Center.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 12:39am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 14th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels will host the 4th-ranked Duke Blue Devils on Saturday night in a highly anticipated ACC rivalry matchup. Duke comes in having won 10 straight games and is 21-1 overall and 10-0 in conference play, while North Carolina has won four in a row and is 18-4 overall and 6-3 in the ACC. The game will air on ESPN.

Why it matters

This is always one of the most anticipated games of the college basketball season, as the Duke-North Carolina rivalry is one of the fiercest in all of sports. Both teams are ranked in the top 15 nationally and are jockeying for position in the ACC standings, making this an important game with conference and NCAA Tournament implications.

The details

Duke and North Carolina have met 265 times previously, with the Blue Devils holding a 54-46 advantage in the last 100 matchups. Duke swept the regular season and ACC Tournament series last year. The Blue Devils are one of only two teams ranked in the top 5 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency, while the Tar Heels lead the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio and are among the nation's leaders in defensive rebounding.

  • The game will tip off at 6:30 pm ET on Saturday, February 11, 2026.
  • Duke and North Carolina last met in the 2025 ACC Tournament semifinals, with Duke winning 74-71.

The players

Cameron Boozer

Duke's leading scorer, averaging 23.3 points per game, and the ACC's leader in rebounding, steals, and field goal percentage.

Isaiah Evans

Duke's third-leading scorer in ACC play, averaging 17.0 points per game, and the Blue Devils have a 27-0 record the past two seasons when he scores in double figures.

Caleb Wilson

North Carolina's leading scorer (20.0 ppg) and rebounder (9.8 rpg), and the ACC's leader in double-doubles with 11.

Henri Veesaar

North Carolina's second-leading scorer (16.8 ppg) and rebounder (9.0 rpg), and also tied for the ACC lead in double-doubles with 12.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must be ready for the intensity and physicality that comes with this rivalry game. Duke is an extremely talented team, and we'll need to play our best basketball to come away with a win.”

— Hubert Davis, North Carolina Head Coach

“This is always a special game, and we know the atmosphere at the Smith Center will be electric. Our guys are excited for the challenge and the opportunity to go on the road and get a big conference win.”

— Jon Scheyer, Duke Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of Saturday's game will take a big step towards securing a top seed in the ACC Tournament and improving their NCAA Tournament resume. The teams will meet again on March 2 in Durham to complete the regular season series.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of college basketball's blue bloods is always must-see TV, and with both teams ranked in the top 15 nationally, the stakes are even higher. Fans are in for an intense, high-level battle between two talented, well-coached teams fighting for conference and national positioning.