Who Duke will play at MSG now that Michigan showdown is off appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The scheduled nonconference matchup between Duke and defending national champion Michigan on Dec. 21 has been canceled after ongoing broadcast rights issues prevented the game from moving forward, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported on Friday. The contest was initially announced in late April for Madison Square Garden before plans shifted to Miami’s loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, in an effort to resolve television complications. However, the parties were unable to reach a final agreement, leading to the game’s cancellation.
The broadcast dispute centered on the Big Ten’s television agreements, with concerns that Amazon Prime Video did not hold the rights to air a Michigan game played within the conference’s television footprint in New York. The Blue Devils and the Wolverines explored relocating the matchup to Miami after both coaches agreed to continue pursuing the game. Miami became the preferred alternative because then-Michigan coach Dusty May had a relationship with the Marlins’ ownership. After May departed for the NBA, the unresolved broadcasting issues remained, and both schools ultimately decided to abandon the matchup.
Duke didn’t take long to find a replacement opponent. The Blue Devils will now meet Texas Tech on Dec. 21 at Madison Square Garden, with the game set to stream exclusively on Prime Video.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
The matchup will be a rematch of last season’s dramatic meeting at Madison Square Garden, when the Red Raiders rallied from a double-digit deficit to defeat Duke 82-81 on Dec. 20, handing the Blue Devils their first loss of the season. Duke holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series against Texas Tech.
The game remains part of the Blue Devils landmark agreement with Amazon, which includes three neutral-site nonconference games each season beginning in 2026-27. Duke is still scheduled to face UConn in Las Vegas on Nov. 25 and Gonzaga in Detroit on Feb. 20, with all three contests streaming exclusively on Prime Video. The agreement is Amazon’s first venture into live college sports broadcasting.
The Blue Devils are ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 despite losing consensus National Player of the Year Cameron Boozer and second-leading scorer Isaiah Evans. Jon Scheyer added the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class along with Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, regarded as the best guard available in the transfer portal.
Meanwhile, the Red Raiders have reached three consecutive NCAA Tournaments under Grant McCasland, compiling 74 wins during his tenure while finishing no lower than third in the Big 12. The program also expects All-America forward JT Toppin to return next season after suffering a torn ACL in February.
Related: MEAC announces launch of digital media network
Related: Dawn Staley to host HBCU women’s basketball tournament with NIL twist