The college basketball landscape is buzzing with anticipation as familiar rivalries are set to reignite and new matchups are forged. Duke University finds itself at the center of several compelling storylines as the 2025-26 season approaches, with a highly anticipated game against John Calipari's Arkansas Razorbacks already circled on the calendar.

CBS Sports has announced that Duke and Arkansas will clash on Thanksgiving night, November 27, in a primetime showdown set to be broadcast nationally at 8:00 p.m. ET. This contest marks the renewal of a rivalry steeped in history, further intensified by the presence of John Calipari, now at the helm of the Razorbacks. For Duke's head coach, Jon Scheyer, this game represents the first encounter against a Calipari-led team, adding a personal dimension to the already significant matchup. The two programs last met two years prior, where Arkansas, then coached by Eric Musselman, emerged victorious against the Blue Devils.

"We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to approach our schedule and playing on Thanksgiving night on primetime TV is another great chance to showcase Duke Basketball on a national stage against a great opponent,” Scheyer said in a press release, highlighting the significance of the event. Duke's commitment to a challenging non-conference schedule is evident, featuring matchups against Kentucky and Kansas at neutral sites and a road game against Arkansas. The Blue Devils also participated in the ACC vs. SEC Challenge, hosting Auburn, and scheduled a late-season game against Illinois at Madison Square Garden.

Calipari echoed the excitement, stating, “In what will be one of the most watched college basketball games in the last decade, we could not be more excited to be playing Thanksgiving Day against Duke on CBS again this season. Duke has had an incredible season this year, and Jon Scheyer has done a great job taking the reins of that program. We are looking forward to the challenge in a highly coveted matchup.”

Duke's schedule also includes a game against Kansas in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. The potential for another high-profile game against Kentucky in the ACC vs. SEC Challenge looms, though details remain unconfirmed. As of now, no other details regarding Duke's 2025-26 schedule have been released.

Adding to the Blue Devils' immediate concerns is their rivalry game against the North Carolina Tar Heels. This historic rivalry, often referred to as the "Tobacco Road" rivalry, spans over a century, with the two universities located just eight miles apart. North Carolina boasts the No. 3 spot on the all-time wins list, while Duke holds the No. 4 position. Together, they account for 38 Final Four appearances. The Tar Heels defeated Duke in Coach K's final game in the 2022 Final Four, adding another layer to this storied rivalry.

In preparation for the latest installment of the UNC-Duke rivalry, there's optimism surrounding the potential return of Duke's backup center, Maliq Brown. Brown has been sidelined since February 17 due to a dislocated shoulder sustained against Virginia. This injury marked the second time this season that the Syracuse transfer has faced an extended absence, following a toe injury that kept him out for four games. Interestingly, Brown made his return from the toe injury against North Carolina on February 1, raising hopes for a similar return against the Tar Heels this time around.

"Maliq has been working so hard. Maliq’s been telling me for two weeks ‘I'm ready’, when he hasn't been,” Scheyer said, acknowledging Brown's eagerness to return. In Brown’s absence, freshman forward Patrick Ngongba II has seen increased playing time, logging at least 11 minutes in every game since Brown's injury. Ngongba II delivered a standout performance in a victory over Miami, contributing nine points and four rebounds in 18 minutes.

Scheyer tempered expectations, stating, “He has not practiced yet. He's going to try today to do some but we're not going to risk anything unless he's completely ready to go. We’ll have to see today and tomorrow, if there's a chance, but he literally hasn't practiced one time with us yet.”

North Carolina's frontcourt, led by players like Ven-Allen Lubin and Jae’Lyn Withers, has shown improvement since their last encounter with Duke. Lubin has scored double figures in six of the eight games since the previous Duke matchup, while Withers has posted at least 11 points in four of his last six games.

The Duke-North Carolina game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night and will be broadcast on ESPN from inside the Dean Dome.