The 2026 ACC Football schedule was released yesterday. As we do each year, we will tell you what we like about it, and later what we don’t like about the schedule.
Florida State vs Florida – November 27, 2026
I’ve seen some disappointment with Florida State vs Florida being on Black Friday. I don’t get it. Black Friday last year had Ole Miss vs Mississippi State, Georgia Tech vs Georgia, and Texas A&M vs Texas. All had pulled in great ratings in exclusive ABC windows.
You know where FSU/UF was last year? It was lost on ESPN2 on a Saturday afternoon. Where TV ratings mean revenue, this is great for Florida State.
Labor Day Weekend National TV Games
I say this year after year, and it remains true.
“ESPN always gets criticized for not showcasing the ACC vs the other conferences they televise. Most of it deserved criticism, too, but not on Labor Day weekend. This is the one weekend of the football season that ESPN treats the ACC right.”
Labor Day is SMU vs FSU. Primetime Exclusive ACC vs ACC matchups are really rare, and this is a chance to see if FSU can be an ACC factor. For SMU they won’t get a bigger chance to showcase their program.
Ole Miss vs Louisville on September 6th. Clemson vs LSU and California vs UCLA on September 5th, Miami and Stanford on September 4th, and Georgia Tech vs Colorado on September 3rd should all get quality spots.
Miami vs Notre Dame – November 7, 2026
Miami vs Notre Dame might be the most anticipated game in the country next year. Both Miami and Notre Dame have appeared in the last 2 National Title games. There was a fantastic game last year, and then a selection process that set one against the other.
This should be incredible.
Week 0 Games
Anything that gives the ACC Exclusive TV Windows, I’m a fan of. The ACC had to go international, but in Week 0 Virginia and NC State play in Brazil, and TCU faces off with UNC in Ireland.
You know they’ll be talking about in Week 0? ACC football. When you’re the ACC and up against the media monsters that are the SEC and Big 10, you get an opportunity to be the center of college football. You take it.
Remember when Georgia Tech beat Florida State in week 0? That game and the Yellow Jackets were the talk of college football the entire week.
NC State vs Vanderbilt – September 19, 2026
I really like this game for NC State. NC State feels like a team that’s a little under the radar, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to see them have a 2025 Georgia Tech start or even a 2025 Virginia whole season. With CJ Bailey back at QB, NC State could make a real run.
Vanderbilt is now a legitimate program, but without Diego Pavia, NC State can prove in the first four weeks with Virginia as well, and in this game, they could be ready for the season to take off.
