University of North Carolina Athletics
Sophomore Isaiah Denis
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
ACC Announces Game Time For ACC/SEC Challenge Vs. Arkansas
September 21, 2026 | Men's Basketball
ESPN announced the network schedule for the fourth annual men's ACC/SEC Challenge, an event showcase featuring many of the nation's premier programs in some of college basketball's most anticipated non-conference matchups.Â
Carolina will host Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday December 1 on ESPN.
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The ACC/SEC Challenge will be contested Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Wednesday, Dec. 2. Games will air across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network and ACC Network and stream on the ESPN App.
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The men's Challenge features 12 teams in ESPN's Way-Too-Early Men's Basketball Top-25, including No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Duke, No. 4 Texas, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 10 Arkansas.. Â
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Opening night features a blockbuster ESPN doubleheader, beginning with No. 10 Arkansas at North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. ET. The spotlight then shifts to Gainesville, where preseason No. 1 Florida hosts No. 2 Duke in a rare regular-season meeting between the nation's top two teams. The marquee matchups continue Wednesday with No. 19 Kentucky visiting No. 13 Virginia at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, followed by No. 14 Alabama at No. 17 Miami at 9:15 p.m. ET.
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2026 SEC/ACC Men's Basketball Challenge
Carolina will host Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday December 1 on ESPN.
Â
The ACC/SEC Challenge will be contested Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Wednesday, Dec. 2. Games will air across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network and ACC Network and stream on the ESPN App.
Â
The men's Challenge features 12 teams in ESPN's Way-Too-Early Men's Basketball Top-25, including No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Duke, No. 4 Texas, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 10 Arkansas.. Â
Â
Opening night features a blockbuster ESPN doubleheader, beginning with No. 10 Arkansas at North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. ET. The spotlight then shifts to Gainesville, where preseason No. 1 Florida hosts No. 2 Duke in a rare regular-season meeting between the nation's top two teams. The marquee matchups continue Wednesday with No. 19 Kentucky visiting No. 13 Virginia at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, followed by No. 14 Alabama at No. 17 Miami at 9:15 p.m. ET.
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2026 SEC/ACC Men's Basketball Challenge
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Where to Watch |
| Tue, Dec. 1 | 5 p.m. | Boston College at Georgia | ESPN2 |
| 7 p.m. | Florida State at Tennessee | ESPN2 | |
| 7 p.m. | Auburn at Clemson | ESPNU | |
| 7 p.m. | South Carolina at NC State | ACC Network | |
| 7 p.m. | Pittsburgh at Missouri | SEC Network | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Arkansas at North Carolina | ESPN | |
| 9 p.m. | Texas at Louisville | ESPN2 | |
| 9 p.m. | Syracuse at Oklahoma | ESPNU | |
| 9 p.m. | Ole Miss at Virginia Tech | ACC Network | |
| 9 p.m. | Wake Forest at LSU | SEC Network | |
| 9:30 p.m. | Duke at Florida | ESPN | |
| Wed, Dec 2 | 7:15 p.m. | Kentucky at Virginia | ESPN |
| 7:15 p.m. | Vanderbilt at Notre Dame | ACC Network | |
| 9:15 p.m. | Alabama at Miami | ESPN | |
| 9:15 p.m. | Stanford at Texas A&M | ESPNU | |
| 9:15 p.m. | Georgia Tech at Mississippi State | SEC Network |
Monday, September 21
Monday, September 21
Sunday, September 20
Friday, September 18