Wednesday afternoon the matchups for ESPN’s “Big Monday” were announced, with for the third consecutive season the ACC in the 7:00 p.m. Eastern time slot and the Big 12 in the second half of the doubleheader. Of course some of the nation’s top teams will be on display, with North Carolina and Duke making three appearances apiece in the ACC and Kansas getting four games in the Big 12 portion of the slate.
Iowa State and Oklahoma, expected by many to be the biggest threats to Kansas’ current streak of 11 straight Big 12 regular season titles, will make three appearances apiece as will Texas under first-year head coach Shaka Smart.
In regards to the Big 12 schedule, it shouldn’t take too long to get a feel for the conference race with the Jayhawks, Cyclones and Sooners being featured during the first three weeks of the schedule. Kansas will host Oklahoma January 4, with the Sooners taking on Iowa State in Ames January 18 (the 11th is taken by the College Football Playoff title game) and Kansas visiting Iowa State January 25.
As for the ACC portion of the schedule, either North Carolina or reigning national champion Duke will be in action during each of the first five weeks beginning with the Tar Heels’ trip to Florida State January 4. Duke will host Syracuse January 18 and then head to Miami the following Monday, with the Tar Heels taking on Louisville February 1 and the Blue Devils hosting the Cardinals February 8.
Two-time ACC regular season champion Virginia gets two appearances, as they’ll host another expected contender in NC State February 15 and visiting Miami February 22. Below is the full schedule for “Big Monday” during the 2015-16 season.
January 4
7 p.m. North Carolina at Florida State
9 p.m. Oklahoma at Kansas
January 18
7 p.m. Syracuse at Duke
9 p.m. Oklahoma at Iowa State
January 25
7 p.m. Duke at Miami
9 p.m. Kansas at Iowa State
February 1
7 p.m. North Carolina at Louisville
9 p.m. Texas at Baylor
February 8
7 p.m. Louisville at Duke
9 p.m. Texas at Oklahoma
February 15
7 p.m. NC State at Virginia
9 p.m. Oklahoma State at Kansas
February 22
7 p.m. Virginia at Miami
9 p.m. Iowa State at West Virginia
February 29
7 p.m. Syracuse at North Carolina
9 p.m. Kansas at Texas ESPN
