Duke football is heading to Charlotte with a shot at history.
Under second-year head coach Manny Diaz, the Blue Devils (7-5, 6-2 ACC) have earned a spot in the ACC Championship Game, where they’ll face off against No. 17 Virginia (10-2, 7-1 ACC) on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Bank of America Stadium (8 p.m.
ET, ABC). It’s a rematch of their Week 12 meeting, a game that saw Virginia control the action in a 34-17 win at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Now, just two weeks later, Duke gets another crack at the Cavaliers-this time with a conference title on the line.
Let’s set the stage.
A Rematch With High Stakes
Virginia has had Duke’s number in recent years, winning nine of the last 10 matchups and holding a 42-34 edge in the all-time series. The Cavaliers’ latest win was a convincing one, but don’t expect Diaz and his squad to roll over. This is a Duke team that’s shown resilience all season long, and they’re peaking at the right time.
The Blue Devils punched their ticket to the title game with a statement win in Week 14, dropping 49 points on Wake Forest in a high-octane victory. That win, combined with Cal’s 38-35 upset of No.
25 SMU and No. 13 Miami’s 38-7 rout of Pitt, locked in Duke’s spot atop the ACC standings.
It marks the first time Duke has finished 6-2 in conference play since 2013, and just the second time in the last three decades they’ve made it this far. The last time Duke won the ACC?
You’d have to go all the way back to 1989. That’s the kind of drought Diaz is trying to end.
Virginia’s Return to the Big Stage
On the other side, Virginia is back in the ACC title game for the first time since 2019-and doing it with authority. The Cavaliers secured their spot with a dominant 27-7 win over in-state rival Virginia Tech, capping off a regular season that saw them reach 10 wins for just the second time in program history, and the first time since, you guessed it, 1989.
This team has been efficient, physical, and opportunistic on both sides of the ball. And while their defense made headlines in that win over Duke, their offense has quietly been one of the most consistent in the conference.
What’s at Stake
For Duke, this is more than just a title game-it’s a chance to put a stamp on a new era under Diaz. After years of being overlooked in the ACC hierarchy, the Blue Devils are now one win away from hoisting the trophy and rewriting the narrative.
For Virginia, it’s about validating a strong season and proving they belong among the ACC’s elite. A win here would give them their first conference championship since the league expanded and introduced the title game format.
Ticket Info
Fans looking to be part of the action in Charlotte can expect to pay anywhere from $67 to nearly $800, depending on the platform and seat location. StubHub lists starting prices at $73, with premium seats climbing above $400. VividSeats and Ticketmaster offer similar ranges, with VividSeats showing tickets from $67 to $796, and Ticketmaster listings between $80 and $430.
No matter the price, the stakes are clear: this is one of the most meaningful games in recent memory for both programs.
So circle the date-Saturday, Dec. 6.
Duke and Virginia. ACC Championship.
A rematch, a rivalry, and a shot at glory.