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REPORT: Illinois to face N.C. State in 2016 Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Illinois will reportedly host back-to-back Big Ten/ACC matchups.

By Jim Vainisi
Thomas Joseph-USA TODAY Sports

According to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, the Illinois Fighting Illini will host the North Carolina State Wolfpack as part of the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The 2016 edition of the showcase will, once again, feature a series of 14 games that pit members of each conference against each other.

N.C. State had a rough 2015-16 season. Coming off a Sweet Sixteen appearance, the Wolfpack proceeded to finish the year at 16-17 (5-13) and they ended up at No. 74 in the KenPom rankings. To make matters worse, Anthony 'Cat' Barber will be skipping his senior year to enter the NBA Draft; he averaged 23.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.

This could be an interesting matchup for John Groce, as he was an assistant at N.C. State from 1996-2000.

Reported Big Ten/ACC Challenge games

  • Illinois vs. N.C. State
  • Duke vs. Michigan State
  • Wisconsin vs. Syracuse
  • Indiana vs. North Carolina
  • Virginia vs. Purdue
  • Louisville vs. Ohio State
  • Penn State vs. Georgia Tech
  • Northwestern vs. Wake Forest
  • Miami (FL) vs. Rutgers
  • Florida State vs. Minnesota
  • Clemson vs. Nebraska
  • Maryland vs. Pittsburgh
  • Notre Dame vs. Iowa
  • Michigan vs. Virginia Tech
The Big Ten Conference retained bragging rights for the seventh-straight year in 2015 by defeating the ACC, 8-6. Illinois, however, suffered a loss to Notre Dame in the first-ever game at the renovated State Farm Center.