Football September 25, 2026 Week 4 Saturday Preview: ACC Football Continues Week 4 with 10-Game Saturday Slate CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – From noon until well after midnight, Atlantic Coast Conference football will fill the airwaves Saturday, September 26, with a 10-game Week 4 slate featuring three nationally ranked teams, four undefeated programs and three conference matchups spanning the league’s coast-to-coast footprint. The action begins with two ACC contests at noon ET, as No. 16 Louisville hosts Wake Forest on ESPN and unbeaten Virginia Tech visits Boston College on ACC Network. No. 6 Miami and No. 22 SMU headline the evening schedule, while Georgia Tech and Stanford cap a full day of football with a 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN. Saturday, September 26 Wake Forest at No. 16 Louisville | Noon ET Series: Louisville leads series, 7-3 Last meeting: Louisville, 48-21 (2022) TV: ESPN SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 173 / SiriusXM 234 / SiriusXM 264 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 958 / SiriusXM 974 Louisville leads the all-time series with Wake Forest, 7-3, and has won each of the last two meetings in the Derby City. The Cardinals won the most recent matchup, 48-21, in 2022. Points have been plentiful when the Demon Deacons and Cardinals meet, as the winning team has scored at least 37 points in each of the last seven matchups. Wake Forest will face a ranked ACC opponent for the second consecutive week after hosting then-No. 5 Miami last Friday. The Demon Deacons will also be making their second road trip of the season after earning a 38-36 double-overtime win at Purdue in Week 2. Wake Forest's defense limited Miami to just nine second-half points last Friday, keeping the Demon Deacons within striking distance in a 33-20 setback. Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez ranks among the ACC's top three in passing yards (887), passing yards per game (295.7), total offense (325.3 ypg) and passing touchdowns (7). Wake Forest wide receiver Carlos Hernandez ranks second in the ACC in receiving yards (322) and receiving yards per game (107.3) while ranking fifth in the conference with 118.0 all-purpose yards per game. Louisville enters on a two-game winning streak and is coming off a 41-31 victory over then-No. 16 SMU in its ACC opener. The Cardinals are 2-0 at home this season and will conclude a three-game homestand Saturday. The Cardinals have yet to commit a turnover through three games and own a +6 turnover margin, tied for sixth-best nationally. Louisville has also scored on every red-zone trip this season, converting 81.8 percent of those opportunities into touchdowns. Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz has been one of the ACC's most efficient big-play passers, leading the conference at 17.00 yards per completion while ranking third in the league and 11th nationally with 323.0 yards of total offense per game. Louisville running back Keyjuan Brown is coming off a career performance against SMU, rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries. Brown broke touchdown runs of 58 and 53 yards and was named the ACC Running Back of the Week. Louisville defensive back Kaleb Beasley recorded two interceptions and a team-high 10 tackles in the win over SMU, including a fourth-quarter interception that helped seal the victory. Beasley was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week. Saturday, September 26 Virginia Tech at Boston College | Noon ET Series: Virginia Tech leads series, 22-11 Last meeting: Virginia Tech, 42-21 (2024) TV: ACC Network SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 174 / SiriusXM 235 / SiriusXM 263 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 959 / SiriusXM 973 Virginia Tech has won three consecutive meetings and four of its last five against Boston College. The Hokies lead the all-time series, 22-11, and have scored at least 27 points in each of their three straight wins over the Eagles. Saturday’s contest will serve as the ACC opener for both teams. Virginia Tech is 3-0 under first-year head coach James Franklin, marking the Hokies’ first 3-0 start since 2017. Tech has outscored its first three opponents 152-50 and is coming off a 35-26 road victory at Maryland. Virginia Tech quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer has thrown for 300-plus yards in consecutive games, totaling 327 yards against Old Dominion and 314 at Maryland. He is the first Hokie quarterback with back-to-back 300-yard passing performances since Ryan Willis in 2018. Hokie tight end Luke Reynolds has posted consecutive 100-yard receiving games, becoming the first Virginia Tech player to accomplish the feat since 2018. Reynolds leads all FBS tight ends with 88.3 receiving yards per game and has totaled 25 receptions for 265 yards and four touchdowns through three games. Virginia Tech has showcased impressive depth in the passing game, with at least nine different players recording a reception in each of the Hokies’ first three contests. Virginia Tech’s defensive front has been disruptive. Mylachi Williams and Cortez Harris have combined for six sacks, while Kaleb Spencer leads the Hokies with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks. Boston College enters ACC play riding a two-game winning streak and is 2-0 at Alumni Stadium this season, earning home victories over Rutgers, 28-21, and Maine, 22-16. The Eagles have forced seven turnovers through three games, including six interceptions, both ACC bests. Defensive back KP Price recorded the first multi-interception game of his career in last week’s win over Maine. Boston College linebacker Anthony Palano has been one of the nation’s most productive tacklers, leading the ACC with 11.3 tackles per game while ranking second nationally. Palano has 34 tackles and two interceptions through three games. Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie has provided a dual-threat presence, leading the Eagles in both passing (648 yards) and rushing (225 yards) through three games. Saturday, September 26 Bucknell at Pitt | Noon ET Series: Pitt leads series, 7-2 Last meeting: Pitt, 38-0 (1945) TV: ACCNX SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 123 / SiriusXM 236 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 960 The meeting between Pitt and Bucknell will be the first since the Truman administration. The two teams last met on October 6, 1945 – just over one month after the end of World War II. Pitt owns a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series. Pitt remains perfect on the season at 3-0, including a 1-0 mark in ACC play. The Panthers opened the season with wins over Miami (Ohio) and UCF before defeating Syracuse, 27-13, in their ACC opener. Pitt's defense has been among the nation's best against the run, allowing just 60.7 rushing yards per game and 2.25 yards per carry. Both marks rank second in the ACC and among the top 12 nationally. The Panthers have surrendered just 11.3 points per game, ranking second in the ACC. Pitt has held each of its first three opponents to 14 points or fewer and has yet to allow a point in either the first or third quarter this season. Damon Ferguson Jr. recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game against Syracuse, rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. The freshman has scored a touchdown in each of his first three collegiate games. Linebackers Alex Sanford Jr. and Jeremiah Marcelin each recorded career highs in tackles against Syracuse. Both finished with double-digit stops as the Panthers limited the Orange to 13 points and 249 yards of total offense. Pitt has been dominant against FCS competition, posting a 23-1 all-time record and an 11-0 mark under Narduzzi. The Panthers have won 13 consecutive games against FCS opponents. Bucknell enters Saturday at 1-3 overall and 0-2 in Patriot League play. The Bison came within a point of upsetting then-No. 17/18 Villanova on September 5, falling 17-16 after a potential go-ahead field goal was blocked with two minutes remaining. The Pitt defense will look to contain a Bucknell offense averaging 12.8 points and 239.5 yards of total offense per game. The Bison have been held to 14 points or fewer in three of their first four contests. Saturday, September 26 Central Arkansas at Florida State | 3 p.m. ET Series: First meeting Last meeting: N/A TV: ACC Network SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 173 / SiriusXM 234 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 958 Florida State and Central Arkansas will meet for the first time in program history Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ACC Network. Florida State head coach Mike Norvell will face his alma mater for the first time. Norvell played wide receiver at Central Arkansas from 2001-05, finishing his career with 213 receptions for 2,611 yards. He also began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at UCA in 2006. Norvell and Central Arkansas head coach Nathan Brown were teammates on UCA’s 2005 Gulf South Conference championship team, which advanced to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. Brown went on to become a three-time All-American quarterback and finished his career with 10,558 passing yards and 100 touchdowns. The Seminoles return home following back-to-back games against ranked opponents, falling 27-24 to No. 19 SMU before a 50-36 setback at No. 10 Alabama. FSU led Alabama 21-6 in the second quarter and finished with 471 yards of total offense. Quarterback Ashton Daniels is coming off his best passing performance as a Seminole, completing 17-of-29 passes for 377 yards and two touchdowns at Alabama while adding two rushing scores. His 377 passing yards were the most by an FSU quarterback since 2022. Wide receiver Duce Robinson was named the Shrine Bowl Offensive Player of the Week after recording six receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown at Alabama. It marked his sixth career 100-yard receiving game and pushed him past 2,000 career receiving yards. Florida State has been perfect in the red zone through three games, scoring on all 13 of its opportunities with 11 touchdowns (84.6 percent). Running back Ousmane Kromah leads the Seminoles with 311 rushing yards through three games. He posted a career-high 116 yards against SMU before adding 80 yards and a touchdown at Alabama. Central Arkansas enters Tallahassee at 2-2, highlighted by a season-opening 36-24 road victory over No. 22 UT Martin and a 59-20 win over Central Oklahoma. The Bears are coming off a 27-9 road loss at Southeast Missouri State. Saturday, September 26 William & Mary at Duke | 3:30 p.m. ET Series: William & Mary leads series, 6-1 Last meeting: Duke, 47-7 (1955) TV: ACC Network Extra SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 174 / SiriusXM 235 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 959 Duke and William & Mary meet for the first time in more than 70 years. The programs last played on October 8, 1955, when Duke earned a 47-7 victory in Durham. Saturday marks the eighth all-time meeting between the programs. The defending ACC champion Blue Devils are off to a 3-0 start, earning wins over Tulane, Illinois and Stanford. Two of Duke’s first three victories have come against teams it lost to in 2025 — Illinois and Tulane. Duke is coming off a convincing 35-7 win over Stanford in its ACC opener, outgaining the Cardinal 470-237, including a 268-73 advantage on the ground. The victory marked Duke’s fifth consecutive win in an ACC opener. Duke RB Nate Sheppard leads the nation in rushing yards (528), rushing yards per game (176.0), all-purpose yards per game (196.7), total touchdowns (8) and scoring (16.0 ppg) through the Blue Devils’ first three games. Sheppard has rushed for at least 150 yards in four consecutive games, dating back to the 2025 Sun Bowl against Arizona State. Sheppard is one of only three ACC underclassmen this century with eight scrimmage touchdowns through his team’s first three games, joining Pitt’s James Conner (2014) and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson (2016). Duke’s defense has been equally impressive during its unbeaten start, allowing just 12.3 points and 292.3 total yards per game. The Blue Devils have been particularly stout against the run, allowing only 79.3 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry without surrendering a rushing touchdown. The Blue Devils have recorded seven sacks while allowing just one through three games. Duke’s defense has also limited opponents to 27.0 percent on third downs and 14.3 percent on fourth downs. William & Mary enters at 2-2, highlighted by a season-opening 35-32 victory over then-No. 8/7 Villanova. Running back Andrew King leads the Tribe with 318 rushing yards and three touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. William & Mary linebacker Harrison Johnson leads the Tribe with 42 tackles, including 1.5 tackles-for-loss, while quarterback Winston Watkins has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 799 yards and four touchdowns. The Tribe defense has already recorded six interceptions through four games. Saturday, September 26 Delaware at Virginia | 6 p.m. ET Series: First meeting Last meeting: N/A TV: ACC Network SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 173 / SiriusXM 234 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 958 Virginia and Delaware will meet for the first time in program history Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on ACC Network. The Cavaliers return to Scott Stadium, where they have won eight of their last nine games dating back to the start of the 2025 season. Virginia went 6-1 at home during its school-record 11-win campaign last season and is 2-0 at Scott Stadium in 2026. Saturday is Virginia’s annual UVA Strong game, honoring the lives and memories of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry. The Cavaliers will wear special helmet decals, and UVA Athletics will provide UVA Strong T-shirts to the first 30,000 fans. Saturday’s matchup features one of the nation’s top passing offenses against one of the ACC’s top pass defenses. Delaware ranks 11th nationally at 325.7 passing yards per game, while Virginia has allowed just 150.0 passing yards per game, second fewest in the ACC and 19th nationally. The Cavaliers have not allowed a 300-yard passer in 11 consecutive games. Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula is approaching three career milestones, needing 31 rushing yards for 1,000, 121 passing yards for 3,000 and 152 yards of total offense for 4,000. Pribula would become the only active ACC quarterback with at least 3,000 career passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards. Virginia’s defense has consistently created takeaways, forcing at least one turnover in 12 of its last 13 games with 23 takeaways — 17 interceptions and six fumble recoveries — during that stretch. Kicker Will Bettridge became Virginia’s all-time leading scorer against Norfolk State, surpassing Connor Hughes’ previous program record of 332 career points. Delaware is in just its second season at the FBS level after going 7-6 and winning the 68 Ventures Bowl in 2025. The Blue Hens became only the second program to win a bowl game in its first FBS season. The Blue Hens enter Charlottesville at 2-1 and are coming off a 22-14 victory over Coastal Carolina. Quarterback Nick Minicucci threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns in the win and is averaging 271.3 passing yards per game with five touchdown passes this season. Delaware WR Sean Wilson is coming off a career-type performance, catching nine passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns last week. Saturday, September 26 Central Michigan at #6 Miami | 6:30 p.m. ET Series: Miami leads series, 1-0 Last meeting: Miami, 17-12 (2019) TV: The CW SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 123 / SiriusXM 236 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 960 Saturday will mark just the second all-time meeting between Miami and Central Michigan. The Hurricanes won the only previous matchup, 17-12 on September 21, 2019, at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami will play on a Saturday for the first time this season. The Hurricanes opened with Friday-night games at Stanford and at Wake Forest surrounding a Thursday-night home matchup against Florida A&M. Miami enters Saturday at 3-0 overall and 2-0 in ACC play, coming off a 33-20 road win at Wake Forest. The Hurricanes have outscored their first three opponents 155-33 and return to Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since a 77-7 win over Florida A&M on September 10. Quarterback Darian Mensah has opened the season with 11 touchdown passes and zero interceptions, completing 71-of-79 passes for 873 yards. His 89.9 completion percentage leads the FBS, while his 229.1 passer rating ranks third nationally. Mensah enters Saturday following an ACC-record performance at Wake Forest. He completed his first 24 attempts to establish the conference's single-game record for consecutive completions and, combined with his final 11 completions against Florida A&M, completed an ACC-record 35 consecutive passes across two games. Malachi Toney has 28 catches for 444 yards and five touchdowns through three games, highlighted by a Miami-record 234 receiving yards at Stanford. The reigning ACC Rookie of the Year has topped 100 receiving yards in each of his last two games. Central Michigan enters at 2-1 and riding a two-game winning streak, defeating Colgate 13-10 and Wyoming 24-10 after opening the season at New Mexico. The Chippewas went 7-6 in Matt Drinkall's first season as head coach in 2025. Saturday features an intriguing matchup between Central Michigan's rushing attack and a stout Miami defense. The Chippewas rushed for 339 yards against Wyoming, while quarterback Angel Flores accounted for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. Central Michigan leaned almost exclusively on the ground in last week's win. Flores attempted just seven passes—all in the first half—and the Chippewas did not attempt a pass in the second half against Wyoming. Saturday, September 26 App State at NC State | 7:30 p.m. ET Series: NC State leads series, 6-0 Last meeting: NC State, 23-10 (2006) TV: ESPNU SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 174 / SiriusXM 235 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 959 NC State and Appalachian State will meet for the seventh time overall and the first time since 2006, with the Wolfpack owning a 6-0 advantage in the all-time series. NC State won the most recent meeting, 23-10, in Raleigh. Saturday marks App State's first trip to Carter-Finley Stadium in 20 years. The Mountaineers' last visit came on September 2, 2006, while the programs also met in Raleigh in 1983, 1990 and 1992. NC State returns home following a narrow 35-31 setback at Vanderbilt. The Wolfpack is 1-2 overall, with its home victory coming in a 73-0 win over Richmond on September 11. Wolfpack wide receiver Keenan Jackson enters Saturday on a roll, posting consecutive 100-yard receiving performances. Jackson had a career-high nine receptions for 102 yards and three touchdowns at Vanderbilt to earn ACC Offensive Receiver of the Week honors. He is the first NC State receiver with back-to-back 100-yard games since Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers in 2018. Quarterback CJ Bailey has thrown for 640 yards through NC State's first three games, while Jackson leads the Wolfpack with 231 receiving yards and Jayden "Duke" Scott has a team-high 198 rushing yards. App State enters Raleigh at 3-0 for the first time since 2019, when the Mountaineers opened 7-0 and ultimately finished 13-1. App State has defeated Maine (55-3), East Carolina (27-24) and Charlotte (26-21) to begin the season. The Mountaineers have already defeated two in-state opponents this season, winning at East Carolina before knocking off Charlotte in Boone. NC State will be App State's third consecutive opponent from the state of North Carolina. App State quarterback Malachi Singleton has been one of the nation's more productive passers, completing 70-of-94 passes (74.5 percent) for 889 yards and five touchdowns through three games. He threw for a career-high 331 yards and two scores against Charlotte last week. NC State will face an App State offense averaging 492.7 yards and 36.0 points per game. The Mountaineers are averaging 320.0 passing yards per contest, while the App State defense has allowed just 304.7 total yards and 16.0 points per game. Saturday, September 26 Missouri State at #22 SMU | 9 p.m. ET Series: SMU leads series, 1-0 Last meeting: SMU, 28-10 (2025) TV: ACC Network SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 173 / SiriusXM 234 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 958 Saturday will mark just the second all-time meeting between SMU and Missouri State. The Mustangs won the inaugural matchup, 28-10, last season in Springfield. Missouri State is in its second season as an FBS program after going 7-6 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA during its inaugural FBS campaign in 2025. The Bears earned a postseason berth in their first season at the FBS level. SMU returns home for the first of three consecutive games at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The Mustangs are 1-0 at home this season after defeating UC Davis, 56-10, and will host Boston College and Virginia following Saturday’s matchup. The Mustangs have scored at least 27 points in each of their first three games, including 56 against UC Davis and 31 on the road against then-No. 23 Louisville. SMU is averaging 38.0 points per game through Week 3. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings ranks among the nation’s most productive passers, averaging 329.7 passing yards per game while throwing for 989 yards and nine touchdowns through three contests. He has completed 73.6 percent of his passes and owns a 194.0 passing efficiency rating. SMU has spread the ball around offensively, with 11 different Mustangs combining for 77 receptions through the first three games. As a team, SMU is averaging 368.7 passing yards per game and has thrown 11 touchdown passes. The Mustang defense has been difficult to throw against, limiting opponents to 157.7 passing yards per game and a 54.9 completion percentage. SMU has surrendered just four passing touchdowns through three games. Running back Kendrick Raphael leads SMU on the ground with 275 rushing yards through three games, while wide receiver Yannick Smith is the Mustangs’ leading receiver with 201 yards. Saturday, September 26 Georgia Tech at Stanford | 10:30 p.m. ET Series: Georgia Tech leads series, 2-0 Last meeting: Georgia Tech, 24-14 (2001 Seattle Bowl) TV: ESPN SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 174 / SiriusXM 235 / SiriusXM 264 SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 959 / SiriusXM 974 Saturday will mark the first regular-season meeting between Georgia Tech and Stanford, as well as their first matchup as ACC opponents. The only two previous meetings came in bowl games, with Georgia Tech winning both. Georgia Tech is the only ACC program Stanford has yet to face in conference play. Saturday’s matchup will complete the Cardinal’s first pass through the ACC membership since joining the conference in 2024. Georgia Tech won the 1991 Aloha Bowl, 18-17, and the 2001 Seattle Bowl, 24-14, against Stanford. Saturday will mark the Yellow Jackets’ first-ever trip to Stanford Stadium. Georgia Tech enters its ACC opener coming off a 44-11 victory over Mercer, giving the Yellow Jackets their first win of the season after opening against Power Four opponents Colorado and then-No. 18 Tennessee. Saturday will be Georgia Tech’s first road game of the season after playing each of its first three contests at Bobby Dodd Stadium. It will also be the Yellow Jackets’ third primetime ESPN appearance through their first four games. Georgia Tech running back Justice Haynes has surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage in seven of his last nine games dating back to last season. Haynes totaled 117 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns against then-No. 18 Tennessee in Week 2. Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr enters Saturday on the doorstep of program history. Birr has made 60 career field goals, tying Scott Sisson for second in school history and sitting just one shy of Travis Bell’s Georgia Tech record of 61. Stanford returns to The Farm after opening its road schedule at defending ACC champion Duke last Saturday. The Cardinal will be playing at Stanford Stadium for the third time in its first four games. Stanford has not lost the turnover battle in any of its first three games and enters Saturday with a +2 turnover margin. It marks the second time in the last three seasons the Cardinal have opened with three consecutive games without losing the turnover battle. Stanford quarterback Davis Warren has opened his Cardinal career with 107 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Warren went 18-of-32 for 151 yards and a touchdown at Duke and has yet to throw an interception this season.