National champion Gators to visit Duke in ACC/SEC Challenge

GAINESVILLE — Defending national champion Florida will visit powerhouse Duke next December during the annual ACC/SEC Challenge.

The Orlando Sentinel confirmed the Gators and Blue Devils will square off either Dec. 2 or 3. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports first reported the matchup of the two 2025 Final Four participants and winners of a combined eight national titles, including three for UF — the latest a 65-63 come-from-behind win against Houston April 7 in San Antonio.

The game is the latest high-profile matchup on Florida’s 2025-26 schedule.

The Gators will kick off their national title defense Nov. 3 in Las Vegas against Arizona. After facing North Florida during the home opener Nov. 6 in Gainesville, Todd Golden’s squad will face UConn on Dec. 9 at the Jimmy V Classic in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

The Gators defeated the two-time defending national champion Huskies 77-75 their during the second round of the Big Dance on March 23 in Raleigh, N.C.

UF last faced Duke in November 2017 during an 87-84 loss during the finals of the PK80 Tournament in Portland, Ore. The schools had faced each other 16 previous times dating to a 49-21 Florida loss in 1921.

The Gators have won just four meetings, but beat the Blue Devils during Final Four runs in 1994 and 2000.

Florida opened summer workouts Monday with key transfer guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee, along one of the nation’s top returning front courts, led by 6-foot-11 junior Alex Condon.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at moc.lenitnesodnalro@nospmohtge