It turns out when you are the defending national champions that you get marquee matchups, and the Florida Gators just found out they will be adding another primetime opponent to their 2025-26 non-conference slate.
Florida will play Duke in the SEC/ACC Challenge in 2025, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. The game is expected to be played at Duke.
Florida Gators set to travel to Cameron Indoor
In the modern era, the two schools haven't faced off a ton. After a string of games in the 1930s and a couple of random games in the 60s and 70s, Florida has only played Duke six times since 1987, going 1-5 during that stretch.
It looked like the two schools were on a collision course to square off for the national title in San Antonio back in April, but Duke choked away a second-half lead to Houston and wound up getting knocked out in the semifinals.
Both Florida and Duke are going to feature a new cast of characters compared to the squads they took to San Antonio. Florida has obviously had to say goodbye to all of their guards, including Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin. Todd Golden went out into the transfer portal and grabbed Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee to help keep Florida as title favorites.
Duke has to say goodbye to Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel to the NBA Draft. They are going to be replaced by Cameron and Cayden Boozer, sons of former NBA star Carlos Boozer.
The Boozer brothers did visit Florida last year but ultimately chose Duke.
Last, Florida demolished Virginia as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge. Florida's showing was part of an overall 14-2 record the SEC had over the ACC in the challenge.
Loaded schedule for the defending champions
Last year, Florida's non-conference strength of schedule wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't super difficult in hindsight.
That won't be the case as Florida looks to defend their crown as the addition of Duke will be part of an already stacked non-conference slate.
Florida is going to play Arizona in Las Vegas. The Wildcats were a Sweet 16 team in 2025. The Gators will also play UConn as part of the Jimmy V Classic.
On top of that, Florida will play Michigan in the Jumpman Classic, and the Gators are going to take part in the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego, where they will play two of the following three teams: Providence, TCU, and Wisconsin.