The No. 6-ranked Duke Blue Devils have once again established themselves as the team to beat in the ACC. Under head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke continues to set the standard in the league, with Scheyer now pursuing his third ACC Tournament championship in just his fourth season. Already, he has made history as the first coach to win two ACC Tournament titles in his first three years at the helm.
This season, however, the road to another conference crown appears far more challenging. The ACC as a whole is in a stronger position than it has been in recent years, boasting five teams in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 and eight programs ranked inside the top 50 of the NCAA NET. That depth marks a notable shift from recent seasons, when Duke often separated itself from a weaker conference field.
A year ago, the Blue Devils cruised through league play with a 19–1 ACC record on their way to both the regular-season and conference tournament titles. Despite earning a No. 1 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, questions lingered nationally about Duke’s dominance due to the conference’s overall mediocrity. Those doubts were put to rest when Duke stormed to the Final Four, winning four games in convincing fashion.
While Duke has again positioned itself atop the ACC standings, familiar challengers loom. No. 17 North Carolina and No. 20 Louisville have drawn the most attention, particularly after Duke’s 84–73 road win over the Cardinals at the KFC Yum! Center on Jan. 6. A rematch at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 26, along with Duke’s always-crucial home-and-home series against the Tar Heels, will play a major role in shaping the title race.
Yet ESPN analyst Jeff Borzello believes the most dangerous challenger may be flying under the radar. According to Borzello, Virginia has emerged as the ACC’s top sleeper contender. In his first season at the helm, head coach Ryan Odom has assembled a deep, experienced roster that has become increasingly efficient on the offensive end.
Virginia faces Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville only once during the regular season, though trips to Duke and Louisville will come on the road. After early growing pains, the Cavaliers have developed into one of the ACC’s most balanced teams, climbing to No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 20 in the NCAA NET Rankings.
Duke and Virginia will meet at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 28, a matchup that could prove pivotal in the ACC title race, and determine whether the Cavaliers are truly the league’s most dangerous sleeper.
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