Duke basketball will play Texas at Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Nov. 4 to open the 2025-26 season as part of the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational, ESPN and the Charlotte Sports Foundation announced on June 9.
Named after Vitale, who celebrated his 86th birthday on the day of the announcement, the invitational was created to honor the hall of fame broadcaster and will air on ESPN. A tipoff time between the Blue Devils and Longhorns will be determined at a later date.
“ESPN has been such a vital part of my life since December 5, 1979, and I was so thrilled to learn that ESPN Events will have an annual Dick Vitale Invitational,” Dick Vitale said in an ESPN-issued statement.
“Jimmy Pitaro and all my colleagues and friends at ESPN have been so good to me and I am so thankful for all of the prayers and love I have received from them during my cancer battles. ESPN has been family to me and has given me a life that has been even better than my dreams. To the Vitale family, ESPN is ‘Awesome, baby’ with a capital A!”
Vitale, who has been with ESPN since its inception in 1979, has called more than 1,000 games. He’s been the voice for many of Duke’s biggest wins, including the Blue Devils’ storied Tobacco Road rivalry with North Carolina.
“For over 30 years, Dick Vitale has been the voice of college basketball,” said Clint Overby, Vice President of ESPN Events.
“I can’t think of a better way to honor his legacy than have a basketball event featuring the very best of the sport. As a kid, I grew up listening to his calls and developing a love for the sport, its traditions and the personalities involved. We can’t thank Mr. Vitale enough for what he’s done for the sport and look forward to a special night.”
Fans are encouraged to visit dickvitaleinvitational.com to sign up for exclusive ticket presale opportunities.
Duke basketball 2025-26 roster, history vs Texas
Entering Jon Scheyer’s fourth season as head coach, the Blue Devils are again expected to be among the top-10 teams in the country as a national championship contender.
Duke has several returners, including Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans, to surround a five-player recruiting class headlined by Cameron Boozer and Dame Sarr. The Longhorns are entering their debut season under head coach Sean Miller.
The Blue Devils haven’t played Texas since 2017, but Duke has a 5-0 record since the first meeting between the programs in 2000. Each of those games were played on a neutral court, including an 85-78 overtime win in 2017 at the PK80 Invitational in Portland, Oregon.
“We are thrilled to host the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational in Charlotte. Bringing together two powerhouse programs like Texas and Duke is an incredible way to kick off this new tradition,” said Will Pitts, CEO of the Charlotte Sports Foundation.
“More importantly, this event celebrates the enduring legacy of Dick Vitale — his passion for college basketball, his advocacy for cancer research, and the joy he brings to fans everywhere. It’s an honor to carry his name on this event, and we look forward to making this a special experience for everyone involved.”
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
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