Toby Corriston
Clemson will see the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 14.
With Clemson basketball recently releasing the full ACC slate for the 2025-26 season, here are a few games you need to mark on your calendar:
At Duke — Feb. 14
Perhaps the biggest win of last season was Clemson’s stunning 77-71 upset over the No. 2-ranked Duke. The Tigers snapped the Blue Devils’ 16-game winning streak that season, marking Clemson’s highest-ranked victory over Duke in over 40 years.
Clemson limited forward Cooper Flagg — who went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft — to just 18 points total, with only four points in the first 34 minutes of the game.
This year’s matchup will look very different, as both teams lost all their leading scorers from that game — Duke with Flagg and Tyrese Proctor, and Clemson with Chase Hunter, Viktor Lakhin and Ian Schieffelin. But no matter what, these two teams always know how to put on a show.
At North Carolina — March 3
Unlike last year, when Clemson had to face the two blue-blooded powerhouses in a 48-hour span, the Tigers won’t meet UNC until two weeks after Duke in 2026.
Clemson dominated the Tar Heels last season, running them off the court with an 85-65 home victory and winning the previous two matchups.
UNC had an unusual down year, finishing sixth in the ACC with a 23-14 record and earning a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Ole Miss in the first round.
The team is expected to be a work in progress to start the season, having lost eight of their top nine scorers from last year. However, a strong recruiting class, including five-star Caleb Wilson, could ignite the dominant UNC squad that we all know.
Vs. Louisville — Feb. 28
Ranked just one spot above Clemson at No. 21 in ESPN’s final NCAA rankings last season, this matchup promises to be a great ACC showdown.
Louisville swept Clemson in both meetings last year, including a narrow 76-73 win in the ACC tournament that secured Louisville’s spot in the championship.
The Cardinals had a massive turnaround season, going 27-8 overall and winning more games than in the previous three seasons combined. Head coach Pat Kelsey earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after only one season with the team.
CBS even predicted Louisville as a force to be reckoned with for the next 25 years, ranking them No. 3 in their projection of the next quarter-century. Adding to their strength, the Cardinals brought in three top-25 transfers and two top-25 prospects from the class of 2025.
Clemson set a school record last season with 18 ACC wins, tying for the second-best conference record.
However, a disappointing first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament has become the fuel the Tigers will be using in their push to dominate the ACC once again this season.
Full ACC matchup schedule
At Syracuse — Dec. 30/31
At Pitt — Jan. 3
Vs. SMU — Jan. 6/7
At Notre Dame — Jan. 10
Vs. Boston College — Jan. 13/14
Vs. Miami — Jan. 17
Vs. N.C. State — Jan. 20/21
At Georgia Tech — Jan. 24
Vs. Pitt — Jan. 31
At Stanford — Feb. 3/4
At Cal — Feb. 7
Vs. Virginia Tech — Feb. 10/11
At Duke — Feb. 14
At Wake Forest — Feb. 17/18
Vs. Florida State — Feb. 21
Vs. Louisville — Feb. 28
At North Carolina — March 3/4
Vs. Georgia Tech — March 7