Football

Week 8 Friday Preview: ACC Football Friday Presents ESPN Doubleheader

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Atlantic Coast Conference football takes over Friday night this week with an ESPN doubleheader featuring four teams in pivotal conference matchups. The action begins at 7 p.m. ET when Duke travels to Virginia, followed by NC State’s faces Stanford at 10:30 p.m. ET.
 
The weekend continues Saturday with a full day of ACC football, highlighted by Pitt’s noon visit to No. 1 Miami on ESPN and No. 23 SMU hosting California on The CW. Boston College at Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech at Clemson and Syracuse at North Carolina round out a slate filled with important conference matchups and opportunities to shape the standings.
 

Friday, October 23
Duke at Virginia | 7 p.m. ET
Series: Virginia leads series, 42-35
Last meeting: Duke, 27-20 (2025 ACC Football Championship Game)
TV: ESPN
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 258
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 258
  • Duke and Virginia meet Friday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN from Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.
  • The matchup is a rematch of the 2025 ACC Football Championship Game, when Duke rallied for a 27-20 overtime win to claim its first ACC title since 1962.
  • The programs also met in Durham during the 2025 regular season, with Virginia earning a 34-17 victory.
  • Virginia enters at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in ACC play, while Duke is 4-2 overall and 1-2 in league action. Both teams have an opportunity to build momentum in the middle of the ACC race.
  • Duke’s two losses this season have come by a combined seven points, including a three-point road defeat at Georgia Tech and a four-point loss to North Carolina last week.
  • Duke brings one of the ACC’s most dynamic weapons in running back Nate Sheppard, who enters the week with 820 rushing yards, 259 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.
  • The Blue Devils are averaging 31.7 points per game and have allowed only two sacks all season.
  • Virginia is also looking to bounce back from a loss to SMU last week. The Cavaliers have not lost back-to-back games since the end of the 2024 season and carry a five-game winning streak in games immediately following a loss into Friday night.
  • Scott Stadium has been a major advantage for the Cavaliers: Virginia is 4-0 at home this season and 10-1 at home over the last two seasons.
  • Friday marks Virginia’s fifth night game of the season; the Cavaliers have won eight of their last nine games under the lights at Scott Stadium.
  • Virginia has been especially protective of the football, with only three turnovers this season — tied for the fifth-fewest nationally — and just one interception thrown, tied for the ACC lead.
  • The Cavaliers’ pass defense has been among the league’s best, allowing the ACC’s lowest opponent passer efficiency rating and only 19.7 points per game through seven contests. 
 
 
Friday, October 23
NC State at Stanford | 10:30 p.m. ET
Series: NC State leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: NC State, 59-28 (2024)
TV: ESPN
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 258
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 258
  • Friday night’s West Coast matchup is the second game of the ACC Football Friday ESPN doubleheader and one of seven conference games across the Week 8 slate.
  • NC State enters at 3-3 overall and 1-2 in ACC play, while Stanford is 3-4 overall and 1-3 in league action — making Friday an important opportunity for both teams to gain ground in the conference race.
  • The Wolfpack and Cardinal meet for the second time, with NC State taking the only previous matchup, 59-28, in Raleigh in 2024.
  • NC State quarterback CJ Bailey has thrown for 1,507 yards this season, while wide receiver Keenan Jackson leads the Wolfpack with 400 receiving yards.
  • The Wolfpack’s Jayden “Duke” Scott leads the NC State ground attack with 358 rushing yards.
  • NC State linebacker Popo Aguirre has been a difference-maker in the middle of the Wolfpack defense, leading the team with 43 tackles — 19 more than the next-closest player — while ranking fourth in the ACC. He also leads all FBS with three fumble recoveries on the season.
  • Stanford returns home after a 34-7 Reunion Homecoming victory over Elon, a performance that included season highs of 222 rushing yards and 515 total yards.
  • Stanford is 3-1 at home this season and has won eight of its last 11 games at Stanford Stadium dating back to 2024.
  • Cardinal running back Micah Ford earned ACC Running Back of the Week honors after recording 179 rushing yards, 52 receiving yards and four rushing touchdowns against Elon. His eight rushing touchdowns are tied for the most in the ACC among running backs.
  • Stanford’s win over Elon marked a dominant defensive performance as the Cardinal allowed just 52 passing yards and a 29.2 percent completion rate.