ESPN has finalized the network and time assignments for the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods to be played Nov. 29-30. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will combine to televise all 12 games of the two-day event, one more than in the previous 12 Challenges because of the addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten Conference.
This year’s event will be highlighted by four traditional power programs expected to be highly ranked entering the 2011-12 season: Duke at Ohio State (Tue, Nov. 29, at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN3.com) and Wisconsin at North Carolina (Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN3.com).
The 2011 Challenge – once again featuring top college basketball programs playing for conference supremacy and the Commissioner’s Cup — involves six teams ranked in an early preseason top 25 by ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz, including three in the top five: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 5 Duke, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 21 Florida State and No. 23 Michigan.
The Big Ten won the Commissioner’s Cup for the second consecutive year while the ACC won the previous 10 Challenges. In the event of a 6-6 tie this year, the Commissioner’s Cup will remain with the conference that won the previous year.
2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge schedule:
Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
Tue, Nov 29 | 7 p.m. | No. 23 Michigan at Virginia | ESPN2 / ESPN3.com |
7:15 p.m. | Northwestern at Georgia Tech | ESPNU | |
7:30 p.m. | Illinois at Maryland | ESPN / ESPN3.com | |
9 p.m. | Miami at Purdue | ESPN2 / ESPN3.com | |
9:15 p.m. | Clemson at Iowa | ESPNU | |
9:30 p.m. | No. 5 Duke at No. 3 Ohio State | ESPN / ESPN3.com | |
Wed, Nov 30 | 7:15 p.m. | Indiana at North Carolina State | ESPN2 / ESPN3.com |
7:15 p.m. | Penn State at Boston College | ESPNU | |
7:30 p.m. | No. 21 Florida State at Michigan State | ESPN / ESPN3.com | |
9:15 p.m. | Virginia Tech at Minnesota | ESPN2 / ESPN3.com | |
9:15 p.m. | Wake Forest at Nebraska | ESPNU | |
9:30 p.m. | No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 1 North Carolina | ESPN / ESPN3.com |
Since 2000, the ACC (10) and the Big Ten (nine) have combined for 19 Final Four appearances and six national titles: North Carolina (2009 and 2005), Maryland (2002), Duke (2001 and 2010) and Michigan State (2000). The ACC leads in NCAA Tournament victories and Final Four appearances while the Big Ten is first in Tournament appearances.