Reigning men’s basketball conference tournament champions Duke (ACC) and Michigan (Big Ten) will square off in the Duel in The District on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., the Gazelle Group and Monumental Sports & Entertainment announced Tuesday.
Ticket information, television details and game time will be announced at a later date. Fans can sign up for email updates for early access to tickets before the public on-sale date.
The event marks the 31st all-time meeting between the Blue Devils and Wolverines, who first met in 1963. Duke leads the series, 22-8, having won 10 of the last 11 matchups, including a 79-69 victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Dec. 3, 2013, in the most recent contest as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Michigan is coming off a 27-10 campaign in 2024-25 that included a Big Ten Tournament championship and a run to the NCAA Sweet 16.
The Blue Devils’ 2025-26 non-conference schedule now features six opponents that reached the NCAA Tournament last season, including Michigan (Feb. 21, Washington, D.C.), Texas (Nov. 4, Charlotte, N.C.), Kansas (Nov. 18, New York, N.Y.), Arkansas (Nov. 27, Chicago), Florida (Dec. 2, Durham, N.C.) and Michigan State (Dec. 6, East Lansing, Mich.). Of those teams, four advanced to the Sweet 16, with two reaching the Elite Eight.
During the 2024-25 campaign, under the direction of third-year head coach Jon Scheyer, the Blue Devils made the program’s 18th Final Four appearance, captured Duke’s 23rd ACC Tournament title, claimed the conference regular-season championship for the 21st time and achieved a 30-win season for the 17th time with an overall record of 35-4. Duke boasts six returners from last year’s squad, while also welcoming the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class.
