Duke to face premier Big Ten program during 2025-26 season
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Duke is coming off a trip to the Final Four, the first appearance for the Blue Devils under head coach Jon Scheyer. Now, the program is trying to reload and regroup after losing a host of talent, and Duke will face a prominent program in nonconference play this season.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the Blue Devils will travel to face Michigan State in East Lansing. That game is set for Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Breslin Center as a true road game for Duke.
Duke is one program that has historically had Michigan State’s number on the basketball court. The Blue Devils are 15-4 vs. the Spartans (since the 1949-50 season), but they have faced just once since Scheyer replaced longtime head coach Mike Krzyzewski. That meeting was a 74-65 win by Duke at the United Center during the 2023-24 campaign.
Both teams are coming off impressive runs last season. Under Tom Izzo, Michigan State rebounded into form as the outright champs of the Big Ten. The Spartans would also roll into the Elite Eight before losing to Auburn in their best season and March Madness performance since 2018-19.
Meanwhile, Duke was led by Player of the Year Cooper Flagg to an outright ACC title and the Final Four. The Blue Devils were on the cusp of the national championship game before a horrific collapse against Houston.
Now, the Spartans and Blue Devils will gear up for another marquee meeting.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
