The Cooper Flagg chapter at Duke has concluded after a single, thrilling season. Flagg, projected as the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, left an unforgettable mark with the Blue Devils and is now bound for the NBA.
Meanwhile, head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff are hard at work rebuilding the roster after last season’s Final Four appearance.
On Thursday, Duke basketball made waves with a big announcement, revealing a blockbuster non-conference game for the 2025-26 season. The program posted on social media:
“Marquee matchup in Cameron incoming‼️🏰💡😈”
Duke will face off against the reigning national champion Florida Gators on December 2, 2025, in a highly anticipated ACC/SEC Challenge game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, broadcast on ESPN.
This marks the first Duke-Florida matchup since November 2017, when Duke narrowly won 87-84 after a 49-point first half. Duke leads the all-time series 5-2, with victories in the last two meetings. Florida’s last win over Duke was in the 1999-2000 NCAA Tournament, an 87-78 upset. The Gators’ only prior visit to Cameron Indoor was in the 1998-99 season, where Duke cruised to a 116-86 victory.
Both teams reached the Final Four in 2024-25. Duke fell to Houston 70-67, while Florida defeated Auburn 79-73 and Houston 65-63 to secure the national title.
For the 2025-26 season, both rosters will see significant changes. Duke is set to start freshman standout Cameron Boozer, likely alongside Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, Dame Sarr, and Patrick Ngongba. Florida, meanwhile, has bolstered its roster with transfers Boogie Fland (Arkansas), Xaivian Lee, and Denzel Washington, plus the return of big man Rueben Chinyelu, who opted out of the 2025 NBA Draft. With key returnees and new talent, coach Todd Golden’s Gators are poised to defend their title.
This early-season clash between two college basketball giants is already a must-see matchup.
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