On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the No. 16 North Carolina Tar Heels (20-5, 8-4 ACC) will travel approximately 20 miles to the Lenovo Center in Raleigh to face the NC State Wolfpack (18-8, 9-4 ACC). This encounter represents the only scheduled meeting between the two programs during the 2025-26 regular season, a rare occurrence in a rivalry that dates back over a century and typically features a home-and-home series. As the 2026 campaign nears its conclusion, the outcome of this single matchup carries disproportionate weight for NCAA Tournament seeding and the race for the ACC regular-season crown.
The Tar Heels entered 2026 with a target on their backs, maintaining a top-15 ranking and a high-efficiency offense. The year began with a difficult 97-83 road loss to SMU on January 3, a game that highlighted early-season defensive vulnerabilities in transition. However, the team responded on January 10 with a historic 87-84 victory over Wake Forest, marking the program’s 500th win in the Dean Smith Center. Henri Veesaar led the way with 25 points, while Caleb Wilson recorded a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double. The win preserved an 11-0 home record and reinforced the Tar Heels’ status as an offensive juggernaut shooting over 50% from the floor.
The 2026 calendar year began with a significant challenge for the Wolfpack, as they fell 76-61 to No. 21 Virginia on January 3. In that contest, the offense stagnated, managing only 20 points in the first half and recording its lowest scoring total of the season. Darrion Williams struggled significantly, scoring only 7 points on 3-for-8 shooting, continuing a trend that saw him fail to reach double digits in five of six games during that period. Will Wade took personal responsibility for the lack of toughness, noting that offensive frustrations were allowed to bleed into the defensive effort.
How to watch North Carolina Tar Heels vs. NC State Wolfpack online – national and local U.S. TV channels & live streams
For a national audience, the primary broadcast home for the contest is ESPN, with the opening tip scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. The television coverage is widely accessible through traditional linear providers. As of February 2026, Spectrum, AT&T, Dish Network, Xfinity, and DirecTV all maintain ESPN in their standard packages. For viewers engaged in digital consumption, the game is available via livestream on the ESPN app and the WatchESPN website, though these platforms require authenticated television provider credentials to access the live feed.
The digital marketplace for sports media in 2026 has provided several robust alternatives for those who have moved away from traditional cable contracts. YouTube TV is currently positioned as a premier option, offering the full family of ESPN networks for a monthly rate of $83. Hulu + Live TV offers a competitive alternative at $89 per month, which includes the ESPN suite alongside its on-demand library, though it notably excludes NBA TV and NFL Red Zone for those monitoring multiple sports. For consumers prioritizing affordability, Sling TV’s Orange package is available for $46 per month and includes ESPN. Prospective viewers are cautioned to avoid the Sling Blue package, as it lacks the ESPN broadcast rights required for this game. FuboTV also remains a significant player in the 2026 college basketball market, offering a 7-day free trial followed by a $54.99 monthly fee, providing access to a broad range of conference networks including the ACC Network and ESPN.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as ExpressVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.
Probable Starting Lineups
The projected starting lineup for the North Carolina Tar Heels reflects their “next man up” strategy following the injury to Caleb Wilson. The anticipated starters include sophomore Zayden High (#1), who is coming off a career-high 15 points in his first start, and senior leader Seth Trimble, who leads the active roster with 13.9 points per game. They are likely to be joined by junior wing Luka Bogavac, who provides critical spacing, and junior forward Jarin Stevenson, who recently moved to the power forward role and responded with a season-high 19 points. Rounding out the unit is freshman guard Derek Dixon, whose playmaking and 5.6 points per game help facilitate an offense currently missing its primary interior focal point.
The NC State Wolfpack are expected to counter with a veteran starting five designed to maximize their league-leading three-point shooting. The lineup is anchored by senior forward Darrion Williams, the preseason conference player of the year, and senior playmaker Quadir Copeland, who leads the ACC with 6.8 assists per game.
The interior will be controlled by senior forward Ven-Allen Lubin, the most efficient shooter in the ACC at 68.4%. Completing the starting five are sophomore guard Paul McNeil Jr., who averages 13.6 points and is a dangerous threat from deep, and senior Tre Holloman, who provides ball-handling depth and a 10.0 point-per-game scoring average. This unit aims to exploit the shorthanded Tar Heel frontcourt through high-volume shooting and transition opportunities.
Head-to-Head Series History
The University of North Carolina holds a commanding lead, with a series record of 168 wins to 81 for the Wolfpack. This dominance is particularly pronounced in Raleigh at the Lenovo Center, where the Tar Heels have maintained a 20-6 advantage since the venue’s opening. The most recent chapter of this rivalry occurred on February 19, 2025, which resulted in a 97-73 victory for North Carolina. In that meeting, the Tar Heels exploited a 28-point halftime cushion to cruise to victory, despite a resurgent second half from the Wolfpack. Historical data spanning from the 1953 formation of the ACC shows a much tighter conference-specific record, with the Tar Heels holding a 37-36 advantage in certain metrics, though the overarching trend has leaned toward Chapel Hill since the turn of the millennium. The February 17, 2026, game is a historical anomaly, as it marks the first time since 1953 that the programs have not played a home-and-home series due to the expanded 18-team ACC schedule.