Early Updates on Duke vs. Kansas: How to Watch, TV Channel & Streaming,Time, Series History / sportsearchers.com

No. 17 Kansas hosts Duke on Sunday, Oct. 25, in the Blue Blood Classic, an exhibition that closes both teams’ preseason. It won’t count in the standings, but it gives each team a rare test in front of a packed Phog.

How to watch

Date and place: Sunday, Oct. 25, at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan.
Tip-off: 12 p.m. CT, which is 1 p.m. ET.
TV: ESPN.
Streaming: ESPN app and Fubo.

Series history: Duke vs. Kansas

This matchup features two of college basketball’s most successful programs, with a history of memorable contests on major stages.
According to Kansas’ official game center, the Jayhawks have won seven meetings, while Duke has won nine. Duke won the most recent meeting, 78–66, on November 18, 2025. Kansas won the previous matchup, 75–72, on November 26, 2024.

The teams also have a history of meeting in high-pressure postseason games, including their memorable 2022 NCAA Tournament Final Four clash, which Kansas won 81–65.
Playing at Allen Fieldhouse adds another dimension to Sunday’s exhibition. Kansas will have its home crowd behind it, while Duke must demonstrate that its talent and depth can translate to a challenging road environment.

The teams have met 16 times in a series dating to 1985. Entering their most recent meeting, in the 2025 Champions Classic, Duke held a slim 8-7 edge.

This is a notable trip for the Blue Devils: it’s their first game at Allen Fieldhouse since 1988, when No. 6 Duke beat Kansas 74-70 in overtime. Kansas got revenge in the Final Four that year, winning 66-59 on the way to the national title. Kansas returns the visit to Cameron Indoor Stadium in October 2027.

Where the teams stand

Duke is projected as a top-three team. The Blue Devils crushed Tennessee earlier this week, though recaps differ on the final score (101-64 or 103-64). Caleb Foster and Drew Scharnowski both missed that game, and their status for Sunday will soon be confirmed so stay tuned.

Kansas is coming off a loss in its previous exhibition. Louisville beat the Jayhawks 89-83 on Wednesday. The same report notes that three players, Melvin Council Jr., Tre White and Trey Kaufman-Renn, joined the roster only about three weeks ago.

Who to watch

Duke

Deron Rippey Jr.: The freshman guard led Duke with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting against Tennessee.
John Blackwell: The Wisconsin transfer scored 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 21 minutes.
Dame Sarr: A 6-foot-8 wing and one of the better perimeter defenders in the country.
Patrick Ngongba II and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje: The twin-tower frontcourt held up well against Tennessee’s physical play. The freshman Boumtje Boumtje had 11 points and three blocks.

Kansas

Tyran Stokes: The freshman guard is the 247Sports No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class and could be one of the best players in the nation.
Melvin Council Jr. and Trey Kaufman-Renn: Veteran players who give the roster some stability.
Christian Reeves: The former Duke center is now with Kansas, adding a storyline.

Key storyline: Duke’s frontcourt against Kansas’ size.

Duke’s victory over Tennessee exposed both its strengths and areas that still need attention. The Blue Devils dominated offensively, scored 46 points in the paint and won the rebounding battle 44–29. However, Tennessee collected nine offensive rebounds, and Duke had some difficulties with ball security.

Kansas presents a more demanding test, particularly because of its collection of tall frontcourt players. The Jayhawks have several options around seven feet tall, including former Duke player Christian Reeves. Former Purdue standout Trey Kaufman-Renn has also joined Kansas, although his eligibility situation remains unresolved in the latest reports reviewed.

Duke will need to protect the glass, avoid unnecessary turnovers and keep Kansas from establishing an advantage inside. The availability of injured Blue Devils Caleb Foster and Drew Scharnowski is also worth monitoring; both were unavailable against Tennessee.

Who is expected to win?

My prediction: Duke to win a close game, with Kansas capable of pulling off the upset at home.
Duke’s dominant 103–64 victory over Tennessee demonstrated its offensive potential, while Rippey’s emergence and the contributions of Blackwell and Boumtje Boumtje suggest the Blue Devils have several players capable of making an impact.

However, Kansas’ size, home-court advantage and experienced personnel make this a substantially more difficult challenge than Duke’s previous exhibition.

For Duke to win, it must continue attacking the basket while improving its rebounding discipline and ball security. Kansas’ best opportunity will be to exploit its size, control the pace and use the Allen Fieldhouse crowd to its advantage.
Projected score: Duke 82, Kansas 78.

Momentum and depth: Duke dominated a ranked Tennessee team on both ends, with six players in double figures.
Kansas still sorting things out: The Jayhawks lost to Louisville and are integrating new players.
Home court: Allen Fieldhouse is a tough place to play, and Kansas has a big crowd on Homecoming weekend. That, plus Stokes’ talent, keeps the Jayhawks in it.

Exhibition results are noisy. Coaches rotate lineups, rest players and experiment, so the final score may say little about the regular season. Watch for Foster’s and Scharnowski’s status, Duke’s turnovers (it had 10 against Tennessee) and how Kansas handles Duke’s size inside.