UNC is adding another high-level non-conference matchup to its 2026-27 schedule. The Tar Heels will face Illinois in the Nashville Hoops Showdown on Saturday, Jan. 30. The matchup has been confirmed by both programs and by Bridgestone Arena, which will host the game.

The non-conference matchup will come during the middle of UNC’s ACC schedule, though the practice of scheduling a high-quality non-conference regular season game after the New Year has become more common among power conference programs in recent years. This is the first time the Tar Heels have scheduled such a game.

The Illini join a UNC non-conference slate which already includes a home date with Georgia (Nov. 13), a reported matchup with West Virginia in Charlotte (Nov. 27), a home matchup with Arkansas (Dec. 1) as part of the ACC-SEC Challenge, a home game against Butler (Dec. 6), a visit to Georgetown (Dec. 12) in the second game of a home-and-home series and a neutral-site game against Kentucky (Dec. 19) as part of the CBS Sports Classic. Carolina has also scheduled a preseason exhibition against Indiana in Indianapolis, with the game set for Oct. 18. In addition, Inside Carolina reported Thursday morning UNC is currently finalizing an agreement to play a non-conference game against NC State at the Greensboro Coliseum on Dec. 15.

Illinois finished the 2025-26 season with a 28-9 record, earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advancing to the program’s first Final Four in 21 years, where the Illini eventually lost to national runners-up UConn. Ironically, UNC and Illinois would have played in the tournament’s second round in Greenville, S.C. had the Tar Heels defeated VCU in the opening round. The teams have met eight previous times, with the two sides splitting those meetings 4-4. Illinois has won the last two games, most recently winning 79-67 in Champaign in 2010. UNC’s last win came in the 2005 national championship game.

Carolina has never won a game in Nashville, though the Tar Heels have not played there since 1987. UNC is 0-3 all time in the city, with all three losses coming in true road games at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Coliseum. UNC has never played in Bridgestone Arena, which is the home venue for the NHL’s Nashville Predators and often hosts the SEC Basketball Tournament.

The 2026-27 season will be UNC’s first under the leadership of head coach Michael Malone, who was hired in April. Brad Underwood is entering his 10th season as Illinois head coach.

Fans who are interested in attending will have the opportunity to purchase official travel packages when they go on sale in August. For more information, click here.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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