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Football

ACC Finalizes 2026 Friday Football Schedule

Charlotte, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference today unveiled its 2026 Friday Football schedule, featuring a dynamic slate of conference showdowns and marquee non-conference matchups throughout the season.
 
The 2026 lineup continues the ACC’s commitment to delivering high-quality primetime college football games, providing fans with compelling matchups and enhanced national exposure across Fridays in the fall.
 
As previously announced, the Friday schedule opens in Week 1 with a conference clash as Miami travels to Stanford on Friday, September 4, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Week 2 features a four-game Friday slate with all four games taking place on ACC campuses. The Rutgers at Boston College contest is part of the ACC-ESPN Friday night package and will serve as the Red Bandanna Game on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, while Villanova at Louisville, Richmond at NC State and Norfolk State at Virginia were all moved to September 11 at the request of the institutions.
 
Conference play intensifies in the weeks that follow, including Miami at Wake Forest in Week 3 (September 18) and Clemson’s road trip to California in Week 4 (September 25). Traditional rivalries and ACC battles continue with Virginia Tech hosting Pitt in head coach James Franklin’s ACC home opener in Week 5 (October 2) and Florida State at Louisville in Week 6 (October 9).
 
Friday action resumes in Week 8 on October 23 with a pair of matchups, highlighted by a rematch of the 2025 ACC Championship Game when Duke travels to Virginia and NC State plays at Stanford. The Friday schedule continues in Week 10 with Virginia Tech traveling to SMU on November 6, followed by Florida State at Pitt in Week 11 on November 13.
 
Late-season Friday matchups include Clemson at Duke in Week 12 (November 20) and a marquee in-state rivalry on Black Friday, November 27, in Week 13 as Florida State hosts Florida at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
 
The complete 2026 ACC Friday Football schedule is as follows:
 
Week 1 – September 4: Miami at Stanford | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN
Week 2 – September 11: Rutgers at Boston College | TBA
Week 2 – September 11: Villanova at Louisville | TBA
Week 2 – September 11: Richmond at NC State | TBA
Week 2 – September 11: Norfolk State at Virginia | TBA
Week 3 – September 18: Miami at Wake Forest | TBA
Week 4 – September 25: Clemson at California | TBA
Week 5 – October 2: Pitt at Virginia Tech | TBA
Week 6 – October 9: Florida State at Louisville | TBA
Week 8 – October 23: Duke at Virginia | TBA
Week 8 – October 23: NC State at Stanford | TBA
Week 10 – November 6: Virginia Tech at SMU | TBA
Week 11 – November 13: Florida State at Pitt | TBA
Week 12 – November 20: Clemson at Duke | TBA
Week 13 – November 27: Florida at Florida State | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC
 
As part of the finalization of the 2026 ACC Football Friday schedule, the Virginia Tech at Miami game originally scheduled for November 20 has been moved to Saturday, November 21.
 
Game times, television designations and additional details for the first three weeks and all Thursday and Friday games will be announced on Wednesday, May 27.
 
 
2026 ACC Football Championship Game
  • The 2026 ACC Football Championship Game is set for Saturday, December 5, at noon ET on ABC from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Fans are encouraged to sign up for the ACC Football mailing list to be among the first to receive information on ticket offers, on-sale dates and pricing. Click here for more information.

Toughest Non-Conference Schedule Once Again in 2026
  • The ACC will again feature the nation’s most challenging non-conference schedule.
  • ACC teams are scheduled to play 25 non-conference games against Power Four opponents and Notre Dame — the most of any conference.
    • Includes nine games vs. the SEC, five vs. the Big Ten, five vs. the Big 12 and six vs. Notre Dame.
  • The slate includes:
    • 12 games against teams ranked in the final 2025 College Football Playoff rankings and AP Top 25.
    • 27 games against 2025 bowl-eligible opponents.
  • ACC programs will also play 12 non-conference games against teams ranked in ESPN’s 2026 Way-Too-Early Top 25.
 
ACC Again Owns Labor Day Weekend
  • The ACC will again command the national spotlight over Labor Day weekend.
  • 14 teams will compete in 12 games across five days (Thursday, September 3 – Monday, September 7).
  • The slate includes:
    • Two ACC conference matchups
    • Six non-conference games vs. Power Four opponents
    • A nationally featured Monday night showcase
  • SMU at Florida State will headline Labor Day Monday in Tallahassee.
    • Marks the ACC’s 17th consecutive year playing on Labor Day (excluding 2020) and 20th overall since 2005.
  • The ACC leads all conferences in Week 1 Power Four non-conference games (six total), including:
    • Colorado at Georgia Tech
    • Louisville vs. Ole Miss (Nashville)
    • Clemson at LSU
    • Boston College at Cincinnati
    • UCLA at California
 
ACC Football Fridays
  • The ACC will again be a leader in Friday night college football during the 2026 season.
  • Over the first six weeks, ACC teams will appear in eight Friday games.
    • Includes three Friday contests in Week 2 (September 11).
  • The conference race will take center stage in October and November, with:
    • One Friday night game scheduled in each of Weeks 8, 9 and 10.
    • Additional selections to be announced
  • Late-season Friday matchups include:
    • Florida State at Pitt (Week 11)
    • Virginia Tech at Miami (Week 12)
  • Thanksgiving week concludes with a national rivalry spotlight as Florida visits Florida State on Black Friday (Week 13) at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
     
About The ACC  
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 73rd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league's founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).