The ACC is officially stepping into a new era. After announcing earlier this season that it would move to a nine-game conference schedule-a shift designed to bring it in line with most other Power Five leagues-the conference has now finalized its 2026 matchups. And for Cal, that means a fresh slate of opponents, a new home date, and some tough decisions ahead.
Here’s what we know: In 2026, 12 of the ACC’s 17 teams will play a full nine-game conference schedule. The remaining five will play eight, due to existing non-conference contractual obligations.
That imbalance will be managed with a rotating system-each team will play only eight conference games once over the next 17 years. Cal won’t be sitting out this time.
They’re in for the full nine, and they’ve just added Pitt to their home schedule, rounding out their ACC lineup for next season.
Cal’s 2026 ACC Schedule:
Home Games:
- Clemson Tigers
- Pitt Panthers
- Virginia Tech Hokies
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- Stanford Cardinal
Road Games:
- NC State Wolfpack
- SMU Mustangs
- Syracuse Orange
- Virginia Cavaliers
That’s a solid mix of traditional ACC powers, rising programs, and a few long road trips. Clemson coming to Berkeley is the headliner here.
Any time the Tigers travel cross-country, it’s a big deal-not just for fans, but for Cal’s recruiting and national exposure. Virginia Tech and Wake Forest add some East Coast flavor to the home slate, and the annual rivalry game with Stanford stays intact as expected.
The addition of Pitt gives Cal five ACC home games, balancing out their four road trips. That’s important for gate revenue and fan engagement, especially in a transitional period for the program as it adjusts to life in a new-look ACC.
But this new schedule creates a bit of a logjam when it comes to non-conference play. Cal already has four non-conference games on the books for 2026:
- September 5: vs. UCLA
- September 12: at BYU
- September 19: vs.
Wagner
- October 3: at UNLV
With nine ACC games now locked in, something’s got to give. The Bears are likely to drop one of these four, and there are a few clues pointing toward which one it might be.
UCLA is probably safe. That in-state matchup is not only a fan favorite, but it’s also expected to be one of Cal’s top draws at the gate.
Wagner, a classic "cupcake" game, is the kind of matchup teams like to keep for tune-up purposes-especially in a schedule this demanding. That leaves two road trips-BYU and UNLV-as the most likely candidates to be cut.
BYU would be the tougher out in terms of competition, while UNLV offers a more manageable opponent and a potentially favorable travel situation. It’s a classic scheduling dilemma: do you prioritize competitive balance, travel logistics, or financial impact? Cal’s decision will tell us a lot about how they’re approaching this new ACC chapter.
The full, finalized 2026 schedule-including dates and kickoff times-will be released in late January on the ACC Network. Until then, Cal fans can start circling a few games on the calendar.
Clemson in Berkeley? That’s a must-watch.
A trip to NC State? That could be a sneaky-tough road test.
And with Stanford still in the mix, the Bay Area rivalry lives on.
One thing’s for sure: the Golden Bears are about to get a full taste of ACC football.