Pitt basketball to host Texas A&M in ACC/SEC Challenge

Pitt will host Texas A&M at the Petersen Events Center on Dec. 2, in an ACC/SEC Challenge matchup, ESPN announced Thursday.

Pitt defeated Texas A&M, 79-62, in the Sugar Bowl Classic on Dec. 27, 1985 in the lone meeting between the two schools. Charles Smith led the Panthers with 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting and was 8 for 8 on free throws, and Curtis Aiken totaled 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting. The Panthers had a four-point lead at halftime before making 20 of their 31 (.645) field goals in the second half to coast to victory.

Bucky McMillan will coach his first season at Texas A&M after coaching Samford to four straight 20-win seasons and a 99-52 record over five years.

Texas A&M has signed 10 players from the portal, including Federiko Federiko (Pitt/Texas Tech), Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana), Pop Isaacs (Texas Tech/Creighton) and Rylan Griffen (Alabama/Kansas).

Along with the Aggies, nine ACC foes and Ohio State (Nov. 28) are on the 2025-26 Pitt home schedule. Pitt’s current ACC home opponents are Duke, Louisville, N.C. State, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Clemson, SMU, Florida State and Wake Forest.

Seventh-ranked Louisville, No. 12 Duke and No. 24 N.C. State are ranked in ESPN’s Way Too Early Top 25, and Ohio State just missed the rankings. Dates, times and TV network assignments for ACC games will be determined in September.

Pitt’s four returning scholarship letter recipients are Papa Amadou Kante, Cameron Corhen, Brandin Cummings and Amdy Ndiaye. Pitt also signed four players from the transfer portal — Barry Dunning, Jr. (South Alabama), Nojus Indrusaitis (Iowa State), Dishon Jackson (Iowa State) and Damarco Minor (Oregon State).

2025 ACC/SEC Challenge schedule

Dec. 2

Florida at Duke

Georgia at Florida State

Miami at Ole Miss

North Carolina at Kentucky

Missouri at Notre Dame

Texas A&M at Pitt

Tennessee at Syracuse

Virginia Tech at South Carolina

Oklahoma at Wake Forest

Dec. 3

LSU at Boston College

Clemson at Alabama

Mississippi State at Georgia Tech

Louisville at Arkansas

NC State at Auburn

SMU at Vanderbilt

Virginia at Texas