Duke, Illinois set for home-and-home series next two seasons

Field Level Media|published: Wed 13th May, 12:57 2026

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round-Duquesne Dukes vs Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood gestures to fans during the NCAA Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Duke will host Illinois in November as the first part of a home-and-home series between the programs the next two seasons.

The Blue Devils are bringing the Fighting Illini back to Cameron Indoor on Nov. 17 with Illinois hosting the Blue Devils the following season on Dec. 4, 2027.

Illinois visited Duke during the 2020 season and COVID-19 pandemic and the programs met in New York City. Duke beat Illinois 110-67 with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel in 2025. Illinois beat Duke 83-68 in 2020 but trails the all-time series 6-3.

Illinois advanced to the Final Four last season for the first time since 2005 and finished 28-9 with a loss to UConn in the national semifinal at Indianapolis in April.

Duke was seconds from being the Final Four opponent when a backcourt turnover and 40-foot buzzer-beater by Huskies freshman Braylon Mullins sent UConn to Indy instead.

The Blue Devils advanced to the Final Four in 2025 where the Flagg-Knueppel led program lost to Houston in the national semifinals.

Illinois and UConn are completing the second game of a two-year series in December at the United Center.

--Field Level Media

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