UNC and West Virginia will finally meet again next season, and the matchup comes with a spotlight built for the occasion.
The Tar Heels and Mountaineers are scheduled to play on Nov. 27 during the 2026-27 season as part of the second annual Dick Vitale Invitational, presented by Belk. The game will be held at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, with the Charlotte Sports Foundation and ESPN serving as hosts.
UNC said a tip time and ESPN network assignment will be announced later.
The meeting carries some history with it, too. UNC is 0-5 all-time against West Virginia, and this will be the first time the programs have faced each other in 61 years.
The Tar Heels will try to break through in the first season under coach Michael Malone, who is bringing in at least 10 newcomers around senior Jarin Stevenson. Among the transfer additions are Neoklis Avdalas from Virginia Tech, Matt Able from N.C.
State and Terrence Brown from Utah.
West Virginia enters the season with Ross Hodge in his second year at the helm. The Mountaineers’ roster is headlined by transfers Joson Sanon from St. John’s and Finley Bizjack from Butler.
The event also carries special meaning because of Dick Vitale, the longtime ESPN college basketball voice. Vitale, 87, is dealing with cancer for a fifth time after being first diagnosed in 2021. He shared several upbeat updates on social media this week, saying recent blood tests were “very good” and that the immunotherapy treatments he has been receiving are "very effective in wiping out the cancer."
On Thursday, Aug. 6, Vitale wrote that his "oncologist is very happy and encouraging in his most recent analysis of my cancer battles." He added that he is "looking forward to seeing and calling the game on ESPN" between UNC and West Virginia.
Vitale called multiple games on ESPN last season, including the first Dick Vitale Invitational game, when Duke beat Texas by 15 points.
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The process matters because the starter will shape how quickly the offense can settle in once Week 1 arrives. Belichick and Petrino have both stressed a careful evaluation, which suggests they are not treating this as a quick decision or a simple depth-chart exercise. For a team trying to get a new system moving smoothly, the question at quarterback is more than a roster detail, it is the hinge point for how fast everything else can click. [Read more 🡒]