The schedule and matchups for the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge in men’s college basketball, which will take place on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, were released on Wednesday. There are plenty of intriguing games on the slate with the two leagues combining to feature eight of the top 25 teams in Gary Parrish’s current Top 25 And 1 rankings. We’re set for some heavyweight showdowns before league play starts for each conference.
In previous seasons, the ACC competed against the Big Ten in the annual Big Ten/ACC challenge. The event came to an end last season, however, after the Big Ten signed a new lucrative media rights deal that did not feature ESPN. From there, the newly formed ACC/SEC Challenge has emerged.
Headlining the event is a matchup of two top 15 teams with Duke set to face Arkansas as the third-ranked Blue Devils travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the battle with the Razorbacks. Duke brings in one of the most talented freshman classes in America while Arkansas is reloading after losing Anthony Black and Nick Smith Jr. to the NBA Draft. Another top-20 matchup on the slate features Kentucky hosting Miami, who is fresh off a Final Four appearance.
Below is a ranking of the 2023 ACC/SEC Challenge games in order from most appealing to least appealing.
Team rankings reflect those in Parrish’s latest Top 25 And 1
1. No. 3 Duke at No. 11 Arkansas
The last time these two programs faced off was in the Elite Eight portion of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils went on the beat the Razorbacks, which would mark the final win of Coach K’s remarkable coaching career. Duke has four five-star recruits joining the program this season in Jared McCain, Sean Stewart, Caleb Foster and TJ Power. As for Arkansas, they have the No. 5 transfer portal class, according to the 247Sports rankings, and will look to avenge the heartbreaking loss that dashed the Razorbacks’ national title hopes.
2. No. 10…
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