Image Credit: UAA
Two of college basketball’s modern blue bloods rarely play one another. When they do, it’s usually at a neutral site, occasionally in postseason competition. For the first time in 89 years, the Florida Gators will welcome the Duke Blue Devils to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in an expected matchup of preseason top-five teams, according to Jon Rothstein.
Florida and Duke are set to meet for the second straight season in the SEC/ACC Challenge. The Gators fell 67-66 to the Blue Devils on Dec. 2, 2025, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, dropping to 1-6 in the extended series since 1973. The lone victory came on Florida’s march to the 2000 Final Four.
UF last hosted Duke on Dec. 18, 1937, in the second game of a doubleheader as the teams met the prior day. Florida lost both games (33-25, 44-37) and is 1-3 against Duke in Gainesville, winning the second game of another doubleheader, 40-21, on Dec. 19, 1934.
Focused on winning its second national championship in three seasons, the Gators are expected to enter the 2026-27 season ranked No. 1 in the Preseason AP Top 25. Florida is returning four of its starting five and every key player on its bench while bringing senior guard Denzel Aberdeen back into the program following a one-year stint at Kentucky and adding a pair of international prospects.
Florida vs. Duke score, takeaways: No. 15 Gators edged by No. 4 Blue Devils in hard-fought battle
Florida vs. Florida State takeaways: No. 10 Gators escape, Boogie Fland flashes, shooting woes continue
Florida vs. Arkansas takeaways: No. 7 Gators dismantle No. 20 Hogs, clinch first SEC title since 2014
