Sean Miller won’t get a gentle introduction to year two at Texas.
The Longhorns open their 2025-26 nonconference slate with one of the biggest possible tests, drawing Duke in Charlotte on Nov. 4. It’s the kind of opener that puts a new-look team under the microscope right away, and it will do exactly that for Miller’s program.
Texas is scheduled for 13 nonconference games before it starts its 18-game SEC slate on Jan. 3, according to Joe Cook of Inside Texas. The overall schedule has plenty of manageable spots, but the headliners are loud enough to shape the Longhorns’ NCAA Tournament case before league play even begins.
Duke is the first and most obvious stress test.
The Blue Devils went 35-4 last season and finished No. 1 in KenPom, so Texas is walking straight into a national measuring stick on opening night. A neutral-site game like this gives Miller an early look at how fast his players are picking up his system, and how much work still remains.
After that, Texas gets a softer landing back in Austin. The Longhorns will play four straight home games against Lafayette, Fairleigh Dickinson, Kansas City and Rider, a stretch that should help them clean up anything exposed against Duke while building chemistry ahead of the next big trip.
That next trip comes at the Maui Invitational, where Texas will make its first appearance since winning the relocated 2020 event in North Carolina. It’s also the program’s first trip to Hawaii for the tournament since 2012.
The field includes Arizona State, Boise State, Chaminade, NC State, Seton Hall, USC and Washington State. Texas is guaranteed three games, which means three chances to collect neutral-site wins that could matter later.
December brings another heavyweight challenge. Texas hosts Virginia in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 3, a game that also gives Cavaliers coach Ryan Odom an early spotlight in his first season in Charlottesville.
Five days later, the Longhorns welcome Southern before heading to Hartford for their toughest true road game outside conference play. Texas faces UConn at PeoplesBank Arena on Dec. 12, adding another recent national champion to the schedule.
That’s a significant detail when you look at the full nonconference picture. Only Duke and UConn made the 2025 NCAA Tournament among Texas’ confirmed opponents, which makes the Maui Invitational even more important as a chance to stack quality wins.
The nonconference slate wraps with home games against Le Moyne and Maryland Eastern Shore.
There are plenty of easier nights mixed in, but the biggest ones are big enough to matter. Duke, Maui and UConn will tell a lot about where Texas stands before SEC play starts, and they’ll show quickly whether Miller’s Longhorns are ready to make an immediate impact.
In Other News...
Dukes Receiver Battle Could Force A Tough Roster Decision
Fall camp has given Duke plenty to sort through as it builds toward the 2026 season, and the wide receiver room may be one of the trickiest puzzles on the board. The Blue Devils are replacing key production there, and transfers Jared Richardson and Javen Nicholas have emerged as the leading options while the staff tries to settle the depth chart.
The real squeeze comes behind those two, where returners Jayden Moore, Jaivon Solomon and Jamien Little are all vying for what looks like one remaining meaningful role. With competition this tight, Duke may not be able to keep everyone happy, and the possibility that one of those receivers looks elsewhere if the snaps do not come is hanging over the position battle. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Offense May Depend On More Than Nate Sheppard
Dukes offensive blueprint this fall sounds built around a familiar idea: lean on the run, stay on schedule and let the game come to the Blue Devils. Sophomore back Nate Sheppard is expected to be the primary ball carrier, and the recent scrimmage work backed that up, with Sheppard leading the ground game while CJ Campbell Jr., Wilhelm Daal II and freshman CJ Givers also got involved.
But the bigger question for Duke may be whether that backfield can do enough on its own to make the plan work. The staff wants ball control and fewer turnovers, which puts added pressure on the quarterback race, where the deciding factor is less about flash than who can best protect the football and keep the offense moving. [Read more 🡒]
Former Duke Five Star Just Added A Twist To Kentucky Move
Mark Mitchells move to Kentucky has taken on a legal wrinkle, even as his basketball future looks pointed toward Lexington. The former Duke and Missouri forward entered the transfer portal, committed to the Wildcats and was expected to suit up for Kentucky next season, which would make the upcoming year his third stop in college basketball.
A Kentucky court has now granted Mitchell a temporary restraining order that lets him pursue a fifth season, adding another layer to an already unusual path. For Kentucky, it keeps the door open on an experienced frontcourt addition, but the situation is still unsettled enough that the final resolution will matter well beyond a routine transfer announcement. [Read more 🡒]