- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Duke's Loss to North Carolina Boosts Virginia's Quest for ACC Title
The Cavaliers have a chance to catch Duke for the regular season crown in the ACC.
Feb. 9, 2026 at 4:47pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
North Carolina's buzzer-beating win over Duke has opened the door for Virginia to make a charge for the ACC regular season title. The Cavaliers, currently tied for second in the conference, have a chance to catch the Blue Devils if they can win out, including a key matchup against Duke on the road. Virginia has been flying under the radar this season, but with only one game left where they'll be underdogs, they have a strong chance of finishing as the ACC regular season champion.
Why it matters
Duke has been the heavy favorite to win the ACC regular season crown, but this loss to North Carolina shakes up the conference standings and gives Virginia a real opportunity to claim the top spot. The Cavaliers have been one of the most consistent teams in the ACC this season, with their only conference losses coming in close games against Virginia Tech and North Carolina.
The details
Virginia is currently tied for second in the ACC with NC State, who they blew out earlier this season. Duke and Clemson are 10-1 in the conference, while the Cavaliers and the Wolfpack are 9-2. North Carolina and Miami are 7-3. For Virginia to catch Duke, they'll need to win out, including a key matchup against the Blue Devils on the road on February 28th. If the Cavaliers can sweep their upcoming games against Miami, NC State, and Duke, they'll have a strong chance of finishing as the regular season champion in the ACC.
- Virginia has won four straight games since blowing a lead against North Carolina.
- The Cavaliers' key three-game stretch against Miami, NC State, and Duke will determine their ceiling this season.
- The ACC regular season concludes on March 7th.
The players
Ryan Odom
In his first season as the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers, Odom has the team in contention for the ACC regular season title.
Duke
The Blue Devils have been the heavy favorite to win the ACC regular season crown, but their loss to North Carolina has opened the door for other teams like Virginia to make a push.
North Carolina
The Tar Heels handed Duke their first conference loss of the season with a buzzer-beating win, shaking up the ACC standings.
What’s next
The Cavaliers' key matchup against Duke on February 28th will be crucial in determining the ACC regular season champion. If Virginia can win that game, they'll hold the tiebreaker over the Blue Devils.
The takeaway
This loss by Duke opens the door for Virginia to emerge as the top team in the ACC this season. The Cavaliers have been one of the most consistent teams in the conference, and if they can continue their strong play down the stretch, they have a real chance of claiming the regular season crown.
