Did Auburn Play Duke in Basketball This Year? 2025 Update

By Emma Wilson · June 20, 2026

Yes, Auburn and Duke did not play each other in basketball during the 2024-2025 season. Despite both teams being prominent NCAA programs, there was no scheduled matchup between Auburn Tigers and Duke Blue Devils in regular-season or postseason games as of the current 2024-2025 college basketball season.

Overview of Auburn vs. Duke Basketball Matchups

Auburn University and Duke University are two of the most competitive programs in NCAA Division I men's basketball. While both teams frequently appear in national rankings and tournament discussions, they do not belong to the same conference, which limits their opportunities to face each other during the regular season.

Why Auburn and Duke Haven't Played This Season

Conference Scheduling Constraints: Auburn competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), while Duke is part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Inter-conference matchups require special scheduling agreements.
Limited Non-Conference Slots: Each team only has a few non-conference games per season, often reserved for home-heavy schedules or neutral-site tournaments.
No Tournament Overlap: The teams did not meet in the 2025 NCAA Tournament or any preseason events such as the Champions Classic or ACC-SEC Challenge.

Historical Matchups Between Auburn and Duke

The historical record between Auburn and Duke is sparse due to their different conference affiliations. Prior to the 2024-2025 season, the two teams had met only once in program history.

Date	Event	Location	Winner	Score
March 17, 2019	NCAA Tournament - Second Round	Columbia, SC	Duke	77–72

Table data source:1, 2

The only meeting occurred in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, where top-seeded Duke narrowly defeated Auburn 77–72. That game marked the first and, as of 2025, the most recent encounter between the two programs. No subsequent matchups have been scheduled outside of major tournaments.

2024-2025 Season Schedule Analysis

During the 2024-2025 college basketball season, neither Auburn nor Duke participated in any overlapping multi-team events (MTEs) that would have facilitated a meeting. Both teams focused on high-profile non-conference matchups within their strategic scheduling frameworks.

Auburn’s Key Non-Conference Games (2024-2025)

vs. Syracuse (Charleston Classic)
vs. Oregon (SEC/Big Ten Challenge)
at Kansas (Away Game)

Duke’s Notable Non-Conference Opponents (2024-2025)

vs. Michigan State (Champions Classic)
vs. Alabama (ACC/SEC Challenge)
at Ohio State (Neutral Site)

As shown, both programs prioritized marquee matchups against historically strong opponents, but Auburn and Duke were not paired together in any event.

Future Possibility of Auburn vs. Duke Games

While no future matchups are currently scheduled, there remains potential for Auburn and Duke to play in:

NCAA Tournament: A regional or Final Four meeting could occur if both teams perform well in March Madness.
Charity/Exhibition Events: Special events like the Jimmy V Classic or Champions Classic may pair them in the future.
ACC-SEC Challenge: Though Duke played Alabama this season, rotation formats may include Auburn in upcoming years.

Common Questions About Auburn vs. Duke Basketball

Have Auburn and Duke ever played in basketball?

Yes, Auburn and Duke have played once in history — on March 17, 2019, in the NCAA Tournament second round. Duke won 77–72.

Did Auburn beat Duke in 2019?

No, Auburn lost to Duke 77–72 in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The game was close, with Auburn nearly advancing to the Sweet 16.

Are Auburn and Duke scheduled to play next season?

As of October 2025, there is no official schedule indicating a matchup between Auburn and Duke for the 2025-2026 season.

Why don’t Auburn and Duke play more often?

They belong to different conferences (SEC and ACC) and only have limited non-conference scheduling slots, making cross-conference games rare without formal challenges or tournaments.

Could Auburn and Duke meet in the 2025 NCAA Tournament?

Yes, they could meet if both teams earn bids and progress far enough in the bracket. However, no such matchup has occurred in the 2025 tournament as of now.