Complete 2026 ACC Football Schedule: Team-by-Team Game Dates

The ACC football schedule for the 2026 season is out, and, well, it’s not quite business as usual. The league is inching toward a full nine-game conference slate in 2027, but for now, 12 of the 17 schools will play nine conference games.

Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, North Carolina, and Boston College will play just eight, mostly because they’ve already lined up multiple power-conference opponents outside the league. Oh, and here’s something different: the ACC Championship Game will be played in the noon Saturday window for the first time since 2008.

Let’s dig into what’s new and what might be coming for each team this season.

Changes in the ACC Football Schedule

The 2026 ACC football schedule is a mashup of old rivalries and some fresh twists. The biggest headline? The shift toward a nine-game conference slate, which won’t be fully official until 2027.

This year, though, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, North Carolina, and Boston College are sticking with eight conference games since they’ve packed their calendars with big-name non-conference foes.

Impact on the Teams

This setup is supposed to level the playing field a bit. Those five schools have loaded up on power-conference opponents, trying to keep things tough and interesting for their fans.

ACC Championship Game Time Change

Here’s a fun twist: the ACC Championship Game is moving to a noon kickoff. It hasn’t happened since 2008, so it’s definitely a shake-up from the usual prime-time slot.

Maybe this midday start will pull in more families and younger fans who aren’t up for a late game. Plus, it could make travel and post-game logistics less of a headache for everyone involved.

Team-by-Team Schedule Breakdown

Here’s a closer look at what each ACC team is up against in 2026, with a few matchups that might just decide how things shake out.

Clemson

• Sept. 5: at Cincinnati
• Sept. 11: vs. Rutgers
• Sept. 19: vs. Maine
• Sept. 26: vs. Virginia Tech
• Oct. 3: at SMU
• Oct. 10: OFF
• Oct. 17: vs. Pittsburgh
• Oct. 24: at Georgia Tech
• Oct. 31: at Duke
• Nov. 7: vs. Florida State
• Nov. 14: at Notre Dame
• Nov. 21: vs. Syracuse
• Nov. 28: at Miami

Clemson’s got a pretty balanced mix of home and away games. The matchups against Florida State and Notre Dame? Those are the ones that could really define their season.

Georgia Tech

• Sept. 5: vs. UCLA
• Sept. 12: at Syracuse
• Sept. 19: vs. Wagner
• Sept. 25: vs. Clemson
• Oct. 3: at UNLV
• Oct. 10: vs. Virginia Tech
• Oct. 17: vs. Wake Forest
• Oct. 24: at SMU
• Oct. 31: at NC State
• Nov. 7: OFF
• Nov. 14: at Virginia
• Nov. 21: vs. Stanford
• Nov. 28: vs. Pittsburgh

Georgia Tech opens with UCLA, then faces Clemson not long after. How they handle those early games might set the whole mood for their season.

Florida State

• Sept. 5: at LSU
• Sept. 12: vs. Georgia Southern
• Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina
• Sept. 25: at California
• Oct. 3: vs. Miami
• Oct. 10: OFF
• Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern
• Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech
• Oct. 31: at Florida State
• Nov. 7: at Syracuse
• Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech
• Nov. 21: at Duke
• Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina

Florida State’s got a big opener at LSU and the annual showdown with Miami. Those games always feel like they mean a little more, don’t they?

North Carolina

• Sept. 5: vs. Tulane
• Sept. 12: at Illinois
• Sept. 19: vs. Stanford
• Sept. 26: vs. William & Mary
• Oct. 3: OFF
• Oct. 10: at Georgia Tech
• Oct. 17: vs. North Carolina
• Oct. 24: at Virginia
• Oct. 31: vs. Boston College
• Nov. 7: at NC State
• Nov. 14: at Miami
• Nov. 21: vs. Clemson
• Nov. 28: at Wake Forest

North Carolina’s got a little bit of everything—conference showdowns and some non-conference curveballs. Clemson and Miami are the ones to circle in red.

Boston College

• Aug. 29: vs. New Mexico State
• Sept. 7: vs. SMU
• Sept. 12: OFF
• Sept. 19: at Alabama
• Sept. 26: vs. Central Arkansas
• Oct. 3: vs. Virginia
• Oct. 9: at Louisville
• Oct. 17: at Miami
• Oct. 24: OFF
• Oct. 31: vs. Clemson
• Nov. 7: at Boston College
• Nov. 13: at Pittsburgh
• Nov. 21: vs. NC State
• Nov. 27: vs. Florida

Boston College is jumping right into the fire, with Alabama and Florida both on the schedule. Those games could say a lot about where they’re headed this season.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 ACC football schedule is shaping up to be something special. There are some bold matchups and plenty of strategic twists on the horizon.

With a nine-game conference slate and a new slot for the championship, fans have a lot to be curious about. Want to dig deeper? Check out the full team-by-team listings.