CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The top two teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference – Duke and No. 17 Virginia – are set to meet in the 2025 ACC Football Championship Game on Saturday, December 6, at 8 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The primetime showdown on ABC marks the 16th time in the last 17 years the conference title game will kick off under the lights.
Virginia makes its first appearance in the ACC Championship Game since 2019 after completing a milestone regular season. Led by transfer quarterback Chandler Morris and standout defensive lineman Mitchell Melton, the Cavaliers finished 10-2 overall and 7-1 in league play. Virginia secured just the second 10-win season in program history—the first since 1989—and matched the 1995 team with a program-record seven ACC victories. The Cavaliers have demonstrated their strength and balance throughout the year, boasting four Power 4 road wins, five victories by more than two touchdowns and three overtime wins.
Duke returns to the ACC Football Championship Game for the first time since 2013. Under second-year head coach Manny Diaz, the Blue Devils posted a 7-5 overall record and a 6-2 mark in ACC action. Duke’s high-powered offense is led by transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, who has engineered an attack that scored 30 or more points in eight games—including at least 45 points in five of the Blue Devils’ seven wins. Mensah ranks among the nation’s top 10 in passing yards, passing yards per game, passing touchdowns, and completions per game. Defensively, the Blue Devils rely on an experienced core anchored by veterans Chandler Rivers, Tre Freeman, Vincent Anthony Jr., Wesley Williams, Luke Mergott and Caleb Weaver.
With the 12-team College Football Playoff in its second year, the stakes are higher than ever. The ACC Champion has earned a CFP berth or National Championship Game appearance in nine of the last 12 seasons. Last year, both championship game participants—Clemson and SMU—advanced to the Playoff, making the ACC one of only three conferences to secure multiple bids.
ACC Championship Game History
This year marks the 21st ACC Football Championship Game since the event began in 2005. Both Duke and Virginia are making just their second appearance in the title game. Historically, Clemson leads all programs with 10 championship game berths, followed by Florida State and Virginia Tech, each with six.
Duke seeks its first-ever ACC Football Championship Game victory and its eighth ACC title overall (1953, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1989). Virginia aims to secure its first win in the championship game and its third ACC crown (1989, 1995). The programs share a unique place in ACC history as co-champions in 1989, when both finished 6-1 in conference play.
Charlotte’s Championship Tradition
Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, continues its longstanding role as host of the ACC Football Championship Game. Charlotte has welcomed 14 of the last 15 title games, and a 10-year agreement announced in 2018 ensures the game will remain in the city through the 2030 season.
Primetime on ABC
The 2025 ACC Football Championship Game will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 6. The matchup features the conference’s top two teams based on regular-season winning percentage, with a College Football Playoff berth on the line.
2025 FCG Premium Seating, Hospitality & Experiences Descriptions
Registix Reserve
Get closer to the action than ever before with seating in Registix Reserve, an exclusive ticket package designed for the ultimate fan. Enjoy luxurious field-level seating just steps from the North sideline’s team bench, putting you right at the heart of the game. Watch the players warm up just steps away in pregame and feel the pulse of all the action throughout the game. Your experience includes access to a private, climate-controlled lounge, along with unlimited premium food, liquor, beer, wine and soft drinks throughout the ACC Championship Game.
ACC VIP Tailgate
Experience the new and ultimate ACC Football Championship Game Tailgate. Located on South Lawn of Bank of America Stadium, fans will have access to an open bar, gourmet food stations, refreshing drinks, and luxurious lounge seating before heading into the stadium. The all-you-can-eat premium food stations are exclusively created by Food Network Celebrity Chef Kelsey Murphy, which can be enjoyed as you kick back in style with a live DJ and plenty of big screens to catch all the other action. This exclusive tailgate gets started at 4:30 p.m. and runs until 7:30 p.m. ET.
Gridiron Club Premium Seating
The 10,000 square foot exclusive Gridiron Club provides a perfect setting environment for you and your guests to experience all the excitement of the ACC Football Championship Game. A Gridiron Club ticket includes indoor (climate-controlled) lounge access with a full complement of TVs, all-you-can-eat catering, complimentary beer & wine, and access to private restrooms exclusively for use by Gridiron Club ticket holders. You will enjoy the game and atmosphere from your outdoor cushioned seating area, which is also covered and heated.
Pregame Field Experience
Watch two elite college football teams warm up to prepare to play for an ACC Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff like never before with pregame field passes. The 2025 ACC Football Championship Pregame Field Experience will afford you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close to the players, standing on the field as the teams get game-ready to chase an ACC Title. This experience begins as soon as the gates open (6:30 p.m. ET) and lasts until 25 minutes before kickoff.
Postgame Trophy Presentation Field Experience
Celebrate like a champion with exclusive on-field access after the ACC Football Championship Game as the winning team hoists the trophy. This experience allows you access to the field during the post-game trophy presentation. This opportunity allows you to walk the same turf as the conference’s best, snap unforgettable photos, and soak in the electric atmosphere as confetti falls. This is your chance to get closer to the action - not just as a fan, but as part of the celebration.
ACC Meal Deal Combo Ticket
Grab the ACC Meal Deal Combo Ticket and enjoy your favorite stadium eats - hot dog or burger, fries or chips, and a 24 oz beer or unlimited soda, all included with your game ticket. Offer is available only in select sections, so grab yours before they’re gone!
Rick Ross to Headline 2025 ACC Football Championship Fan Fest
Rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross will perform at Fan Fest on Saturday, December 6, ahead of the 2025 ACC Football Championship Game. Ross, whose chart-topping hits include "Hustlin’", "The Boss", and "Stay Schemin’", will take the stage at 5:45 p.m. ET at Romare Bearden Park, just a block away from Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte.
An influential figure in modern hip-hop and rap, Rick Ross has frequently collaborated with the biggest names in music, including Drake, Jay-Z, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Meek Mill and Future. Earlier this year, he released the first single, “For The Money”, from his upcoming 12th studio album, Set in Stone, slated for release later this year.
Other Exciting Fan Offerings
In addition to the 2025 ACC Football Championship Game, ACC fans of all ages can take part in weekend festivities, including Fan Fest, which will take place in Uptown Charlotte at Romare Bearden Park on Friday, December 5, from 3-9 p.m. ET and Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. ET. Free and open to the public and situated just one block from Bank of America Stadium, Fan Fest offers pregame fun for fans of all ages, including appearances by ACC Mascots, tailgate games, a beer garden, food trucks, giveaways and more.
Fan Fest includes:
- Live performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Rick Ross
- ACC Mascot and school band performances
- QB Challenge, Field Goal Kick, Football Pong
- A beer garden and food trucks
- Appearances by ACC Network personalities, Chalk Talk
- Tailgate games, Face Painting, Photo Ops, Free Giveaways
- Extra Yard for Teachers Foundation Activation
- ACC Championship Merchandise