DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — The Duke Blue Devils, looking to move past a season-ending loss in their last outing, open the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season Tuesday against the Texas Longhorns in a high-profile non-conference matchup at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center.

Both teams enter with 0-0 records, but Duke carries the memory of a 70-67 defeat to Houston in the national semifinals last April 5. Texas, meanwhile, last played on March 19, falling 86-80 to Xavier in the NIT.

The neutral-site opener presents a significant early test for both programs. According to projections from Interstat’s ELO system, the Blue Devils are heavy favorites with an 86% probability to win.

The game kicks off a challenging slate for Duke, which faces a road game at Army on Nov. 11 and a showdown with Kansas in New York on Nov. 18. Texas begins its season with a multi-game homestand, hosting Lafayette on Nov. 8 before a trip to Hawaii later in the month to face Arizona State.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 4.