The 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge will feature a headline-grabbing showdown as Kentucky hosts North Carolina on Dec. 2 at Rupp Arena. This clash between two college basketball powerhouses offers the Wildcats a shot at reshaping the tone of a rivalry still led by UNC. Kentucky claimed a narrow 87–83 win over the Tar Heels in last year’s CBS Sports Classic, highlighting their ability to perform under pressure.
Yet, questions persist about the program’s struggles in high-profile games. While the recent victory offered a bright spot, the broader narrative remains clouded by Kentucky’s postseason shortcomings. This rematch presents a timely opportunity to reverse that trend on one of the sport’s biggest early-season stages.
Rupp Arena to Stage Blueblood Battle: Kentucky vs. North Carolina
One of college basketball’s premier showdowns is headed to Lexington, as Kentucky will host North Carolina in the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge. The Tar Heels, led by Hubert Davis, will visit Rupp Arena for the first time in over a decade, setting the stage for the 44th meeting between two of the sport’s iconic programs.
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This matchup adds another layer to an already loaded non-conference slate for Kentucky in 2025–26. The Wildcats, entering their second season under head coach Mark Pope, have notched recent wins over UNC — including a 98–69 blowout in 2021 and an 87–83 victory in 2023, both in the CBS Sports Classic.
Though North Carolina holds a 25–18 edge in the all-time series, Kentucky has claimed four of the last six meetings, all on neutral floors.
UNC has not won at Rupp Arena since 2007 and enters with a 2–5 record at the venue, including losses in 2001 and 2014. Overall, the Tar Heels are 6–8 against Kentucky in Lexington.
This year’s contest will also carry extra meaning for Big Blue Nation following a recruiting stunner. Five-star forward Caleb Wilson, a top-five prospect in the 2025 class, chose North Carolina over Kentucky in January after a late push from Davis and his staff. The Wildcats were seen as the frontrunner throughout the process, making Wilson’s decision a stinging blow at the time.
North Carolina returns senior guard Seth Trimble and adds nine newcomers: five transfers and four freshmen. Among them are Arizona’s Henri Veesaar, Alabama’s Jarin Stevenson, and Wilson, expected to play key roles in Davis’ fifth season at the helm. The Tar Heels are 1–1 in the ACC/SEC Challenge, with a win over Tennessee in 2023 and a loss to Alabama last season. This year marks their first road game in the series.
Kentucky, meanwhile, reloaded through the portal. Pope added Pitt’s Jaland Lowe, Florida’s Denzel Aberdeen, Alabama’s Mouhamed Diabate, and Arizona State’s Jayden Quaintance to complement senior guard Otega Oweh. The Wildcats also welcome five-star freshman Jasper Johnson.
Full matchups for the event include Florida at Duke, Virginia at Texas, and Tennessee at Syracuse, among others. Official dates are pending, though the 2024 event took place on Dec. 3–4. Last year, Kentucky lost 70–66 at Clemson, shooting just 38.1 percent from the field and 25.9 percent from three.
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With the spotlight back on Rupp Arena, the Wildcats will once again try to shake off the “curse” of falling short in big moments — and this time, against the program that has often stood in their way.
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