NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 14 matchups for 2021 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

There are plenty of “challenges” these days in NCAA Basketball between some of the top conferences in the sport, such as the Big East vs. Big Ten Gavitt Games Tip-Off and Big 12/SEC Challenge. However, the biggest and most anticipated one will always be the one between the ACC and Big Ten Conferences, two consistently elite basketball leagues.

The challenge between them has been going on for years, always giving us fans at least a few quality matchups between top-25 opponents. Last season was no different, as we got games such as Duke vs Illinois, North Carolina vs Iowa, and Wisconsin vs Louisville. We also were supposed to get a highly anticipated game between Michigan State and Virginia, known as the battle of the Hauser brothers.

Unfortunately, that game, along with NC State vs Michigan was cancelled due to covid-related issues. All things considered though, playing 12 out of 14 during the non-conference portion of the season proved to be an impressive feat. In the end, it was the Big Ten that won the overall score, 7-5.

The ACC will be looking for some revenge in 2021, this time with all 14 games expected to be played. Since they have one extra conference team, Boston College will be the odd man odd this time around. That’s not a big deal since the Eagles are the consensus projected team at the bottom of the ACC standings.

Now that we know what the matchups are for next season’s challenge, which of them are most intriguing on paper? Here’s a ranking of the games from 14-1.