(BCSNN) — The University of Michigan and Duke University announced Thursday (April 30) that the two programs will meet for a second consecutive season in non‑conference play, squaring off on Monday, Dec. 21, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The matchup brings together two of college basketball’s most storied programs and is expected to be one of the premier non‑conference games of the 2026–27 season. The meeting continues the renewed series between the Wolverines and Blue Devils, who faced off last season in Washington, D.C., at the Capital Showcase. In that contest, then‑No. 1 Michigan fell 68–63 to No. 3 Duke in a tightly contested battle that featured 13 first‑half lead changes. The Wolverines pulled within one point in the final four minutes before Duke closed the game at the free‑throw line.

Michigan’s last win over Duke came in 2008, an 81–73 victory in Ann Arbor, marking its lone win in the last 12 meetings dating back to 1998. Duke leads the all‑time series 23–8, and the Blue Devils have won the last four matchups. The programs have met once previously at Madison Square Garden — the 2008 2K Sports Classic championship game, a 71–56 Duke win.

Michigan, however, has a long history of success at the Garden. The Wolverines own a 27–12 record at MSG, including a 13–3 mark in postseason play. U‑M has reached the NIT championship weekend five times, winning titles in 1984, 1997 and 2004, and first appeared at the venue during the 1948 NCAA Eastern Regional. More recently, Michigan captured the 2018 Big Ten Tournament title at MSG, winning four games in four days, and earned victories in Big Ten Super Saturday events in 2016 (vs. Penn State) and 2020 (vs. Rutgers).

Both programs enter the 2026–27 season with high expectations and national attention, making the December meeting at Madison Square Garden a marquee early‑season showcase.