A new test has been added to the Tar Heels’ schedule.
Yesterday it was announced that the North Carolina Tar Heels will face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2025 CBS Sports Classic. This year’s event will be held at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA.
This year’s matchup between the Heels and the Buckeyes will be the 17th time that these two have faced off against each other. UNC leads the series 13-3, but Ohio State is not a stranger to rolling out some tough teams regardless. I don’t know what their squad will look like going into the 2025-26 season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this game ends up being one of the tougher tests during the non-conference portion of their schedule.
The other matchup that was announced as part of the CBS Sports Classic was Kentucky facing off against St. John’s. UCLA is no longer a part of the event, so Ian Jackson’s new team will take their place instead.
The Heels could’ve easily gotten one of “those games” where a player faces their former team, but instead we will witness Rick Pitino coach against his former place of employment. Both the Red Storm and the Wildcats are coming off of impressive runs during the 2024-25 season, and both have goals of making it to the Final Four when all is said and done in March.
Back to the Tar Heels, we now know that Ohio State and Kansas definite matchups during non-conference play. We also know that the Heels will face off against Radford, Central Arkansas, Navy, Michigan State, USC Upstate, East Carolina, and NC Central. It’s unknown who they will square off against as a part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, but I’m sure they will end up drawing one of the tougher teams if I had to guess.
What do you think of UNC’s draw in the CBS Sports Classic? Also, who would you like the Heels to face off against in the ACC/SEC Challenge? let us know in the comments below.
