NC State, Virginia to Kick Off 2026 Season in Historic ACC Matchup - in Brazil
College football is going global - again. And this time, it’s the ACC planting its flag in South America.
NC State and Virginia will open their 2026 seasons with a conference clash in Rio de Janeiro, marking the first-ever Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) game played in Brazil. The matchup is set for August 29, 2026, at Nilton Santos Stadium, and it will air on an ESPN network.
Yes, you read that right - ACC football under the Brazilian sun.
This isn’t just a novelty game or a one-off spectacle. It’s a full-fledged conference matchup with real implications.
Originally scheduled as a nonconference tilt, the game was reclassified after the ACC’s move to a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026. That means when NC State and Virginia line up in Rio, it won’t just be about the experience - it’ll count in the standings.
And the backdrop? One of the most iconic cities in the world.
“We are excited about the opportunity to play in a beautiful, world-renowned city like Rio de Janeiro and to bring American football to another continent,” said NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan. “It’s definitely a unique situation to play a road game versus Virginia in Brazil, but it should be an unforgettable experience.”
He’s not wrong. While the NFL has already dipped its toes in the Brazilian market - staging games there in both 2024 and 2025, with more on the way - this will be the first time a college football game of this level touches down in South America.
It's part of a broader push to expand the sport's global footprint, and it’s not happening in isolation. On the very same day, North Carolina will face TCU in Dublin, Ireland, making August 29, 2026, a landmark date for college football’s international ambitions.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips framed the Brazil game as a reflection of the conference’s forward-thinking mindset. “To have NC State and Virginia open our conference schedule on an international stage in Rio de Janeiro speaks to the vision, innovation, and collaboration of our league,” Phillips said.
From a football standpoint, the matchup brings plenty of intrigue. NC State is riding a wave of consistency under head coach Dave Doeren, who was recently confirmed to return for his 14th season. The Wolfpack are bowl-bound for the sixth straight year, a testament to the program’s sustained competitiveness.
Virginia, meanwhile, has its eyes on bigger hardware. The Cavaliers are set to face Duke in the ACC Championship Game this Saturday, and their only two losses this season include a defeat at the hands of NC State. That earlier meeting adds a little extra spice to the Brazil rematch - a chance for redemption for Virginia, and a chance for NC State to make another early-season statement.
Tickets for the Rio game will be available in two waves. Presale access through both universities began December 1, while general public sales open December 15. The event is being organized by Athlete Advantage and Brasil Sports Business, two groups helping bring American football to new audiences in South America.
This isn’t just a game. It’s a milestone - for the ACC, for college football, and for the sport’s global future. And come late August 2026, all eyes will be on Rio, where two ACC programs will make history under the South American sky.