Heel Tough Blog: UNC Adds Two Games to 2026-27 Non-Conference Schedule

Greensboro Complex

According to sources connected to both North Carolina and NC State, the Tar Heels and the Wolfpack are set to play a non-conference neutral site game at the Greensboro Coliseum in December. This is a response to the ACC only scheduling one game between the two longtime rivals for a second straight season, after the ACC opted to reduce its conference slate from 20 games, down to 18. Last year, Carolina lost the only game between the two programs in Raleigh, and this year the Tar Heels will host the Wolfpack in the return game. 

When Michael Malone was introduced as the new head coach of Carolina Basketball back in April, he made it known he was excited to be a part of the legendary rivalries that UNC has ties to, and this will be his first taste of Tobacco Road, even if it counts as a non-conference game. 

That wasn’t the only piece of non-conference scheduling news to drop today, as according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, the Tar Heels will also play Illinois in Nashville in late January. The Fighting Illini, a 2026 Final Four participant, return the majority of their production from last season, and will enter the 2026-27 season as a favorite to win the Big 10 and return to the Final Four. 

Scheduling non-conference games in January or February has become a recent trend across college basketball, with conferences paving the way for schools to break up a long run of conference play. Last season, Duke and Michigan played in Washington, D.C., and the year prior, Duke also played Illinois. 

In a statement obtained by Sahil Mittal, of The Daily Illini, Malone offered this quote about the matchup: “Stepping out of conference play for a high-profile national game presents a good opportunity for both programs. Illinois was a Final Four team last year, and we expect they will have another outstanding team. It should be a great test for us.”

Here is an updated look at North Carolina’s non-conference schedule for next season, after today’s news: 

Vs. Western Carolina: Nov. 2

Vs. Wofford: Nov. 6

Vs. Wyoming: Nov. 10

Vs. Georgia: Nov. 13

Vs. Marshall: Nov. 20

Vs. West Virginia: Nov. 27 (at Charlotte) – not finalized

Vs. Arkansas: Dec. 1 (ACC/SEC Challenge)

Vs. Butler: Dec. 6

@ Georgetown: Dec. 12

Vs. N.C. State: Dec. 15 (at Greensboro Coliseum)                                                                       

Vs. Kentucky: (CBS Sports Classic at MSG). Dec. 19

Vs. The Citadel: Dec. 21

Vs. Illinois: Jan. 30 (Nashville)