Duke basketball has its first opponent lined up for the 2027-28 season.
Per a contract obtained by The Fayetteville Observer, Washington State “agreed to return the game to” the Blue Devils in 2027 as part of the schools’ 2026 Palm Springs Series agreement. The date has not yet been determined.
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Duke and Washington State are scheduled to meet for the first time on Nov. 21, 2026, at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California, as part of the Acrisure Series.
Per the contract, Total Sports Consulting LLC will pay Washington State a $180,000 guarantee by Dec. 30, 2026. The contract also states that the guarantee for the 2027 return game will be paid to Total Sports Consulting, but does not specify an amount.
The contract does not disclose Duke’s payout. As a private institution, Duke is not subject to public-records requests.
The contract was signed by Washington State athletic director Jon Haarlow and a director of Total Sports Consulting LLC in May 2026.
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Duke is also set to face Michigan State, Illinois, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan State and Gonzaga during the 2026-27 regular season.
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Which Duke basketball opponent has agreed to return game next season? | Exclusive
