### **UNC Basketball Stunned by NC State Loss—And You Won’t Believe What’s Next on the New Schedule!**
The **North Carolina Tar Heels** suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of **NC State**, shaking up the ACC standings and leaving fans stunned. But the real twist? The upcoming schedule changes could alter the landscape of college basketball as we know it.
#### **A Rivalry Game Gone Wrong**
UNC entered the matchup as the favorite, boasting a strong season record and a deep roster. However, NC State had other plans. The Wolfpack delivered a **dominant performance**, exposing weaknesses in UNC’s defense and capitalizing on fast-break opportunities. The final score? A decisive **97-73 victory** for NC State [A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRzKvVF_OPM&copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiI4VmlmemFDODFDbURkMnkyZHZtWXYiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiNGh5VHlISHY5THJaSDZDTGJ2b0p0IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tXC93YXRjaD92PVRSekt2VkZfT1BNIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
For UNC, the loss wasn’t just about the scoreboard—it was about momentum. The Tar Heels had been building toward a strong postseason push, but this defeat raises questions about their ability to handle high-pressure games.
#### **ACC’s Shocking Schedule Shake-Up**
Just as fans were processing the loss, the ACC dropped a bombshell: the conference is **reducing its schedule from 20 games to 18** starting in the **2025-2026 season** [B](https://topfootballnews.co.uk/unc-basketball-stunned-by-nc-state-loss-and-you-wont-believe-whats-next-on-the-new-schedule/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiI4VmlmemFDODFDbURkMnkyZHZtWXYiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiNGh5VHlISHY5THJaSDZDTGJ2b0p0IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdG9wZm9vdGJhbGxuZXdzLmNvLnVrXC91bmMtYmFza2V0YmFsbC1zdHVubmVkLWJ5LW5jLXN0YXRlLWxvc3MtYW5kLXlvdS13b250LWJlbGlldmUtd2hhdHMtbmV4dC1vbi10aGUtbmV3LXNjaGVkdWxlXC8ifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1) [C](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/unc-basketball-loses-game-against-170000485.html?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiI4VmlmemFDODFDbURkMnkyZHZtWXYiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiNGh5VHlISHY5THJaSDZDTGJ2b0p0IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvc3BvcnRzLnlhaG9vLmNvbVwvYXJ0aWNsZVwvdW5jLWJhc2tldGJhbGwtbG9zZXMtZ2FtZS1hZ2FpbnN0LTE3MDAwMDQ4NS5odG1sIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). This change means teams will have **two additional non-conference matchups**, allowing for more marquee games to boost tournament resumes.
But here’s the catch—this shift **eliminates some traditional rivalries**. While UNC’s annual home-and-home series with **Duke** remains intact, the **UNC vs. NC State rivalry is no longer guaranteed** to be played twice a season [B](https://topfootballnews.co.uk/unc-basketball-stunned-by-nc-state-loss-and-you-wont-believe-whats-next-on-the-new-schedule/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiI4VmlmemFDODFDbURkMnkyZHZtWXYiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiNGh5VHlISHY5THJaSDZDTGJ2b0p0IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdG9wZm9vdGJhbGxuZXdzLmNvLnVrXC91bmMtYmFza2V0YmFsbC1zdHVubmVkLWJ5LW5jLXN0YXRlLWxvc3MtYW5kLXlvdS13b250LWJlbGlldmUtd2hhdHMtbmV4dC1vbi10aGUtbmV3LXNjaGVkdWxlXC8ifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1) [C](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/unc-basketball-loses-game-against-170000485.html?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiI4VmlmemFDODFDbURkMnkyZHZtWXYiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiNGh5VHlISHY5THJaSDZDTGJ2b0p0IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvc3BvcnRzLnlhaG9vLmNvbVwvYXJ0aWNsZVwvdW5jLWJhc2tldGJhbGwtbG9zZXMtZ2FtZS1hZ2FpbnN0LTE3MDAwMDQ4NS5odG1sIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). Instead, the matchup could become a **once-a-year event—or even disappear entirely in certain seasons**.
#### **Why the Change?**
The ACC’s decision stems from its **2023 expansion**, which added **Stanford, Cal, and SMU** to the conference [B](https://topfootballnews.co.uk/unc-basketball-stunned-by-nc-state-loss-and-you-wont-believe-whats-next-on-the-new-schedule/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiI4VmlmemFDODFDbURkMnkyZHZtWXYiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoiNGh5VHlISHY5THJaSDZDTGJ2b0p0IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvdG9wZm9vdGJhbGxuZXdzLmNvLnVrXC91bmMtYmFza2V0YmFsbC1zdHVubmVkLWJ5LW5jLXN0YXRlLWxvc3MtYW5kLXlvdS13b250LWJlbGlldmUtd2hhdHMtbmV4dC1vbi10aGUtbmV3LXNjaGVkdWxlXC8ifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). With more teams in the mix, scheduling became increasingly complicated. The league opted for flexibility, prioritizing **TV ratings and non-conference opportunities** over maintaining historic rivalries.
Ironically, NC State played a key role in this shift. Their **swing vote** in the ACC’s expansion decision helped create the current structure, which ultimately led to the **loss of their own rivalry with UNC** up blockbuster games against **Kansas, Gonzaga, or even Kentucky**.
Meanwhile, the loss to NC State serves as a wake-up call. UNC must **tighten its defense, improve rebounding, and refine its offensive execution** to avoid similar upsets in the future.
### **Conclusion**
UNC’s stunning loss to NC State was just the beginning. With the ACC’s schedule shake-up, the Tar Heels face a new era of college basketball—one where rivalries are no longer guaranteed, and every game carries heightened stakes.
For UNC fans, the message is clear: **brace for change, because the future of Tar Heel basketball is about to get unpredictable**
