After a breakthrough 2025 campaign that saw Virginia football finish No. 16 in the final AP Top 25 - their first end-of-season ranking since 2004 and highest since 1995 - the Cavaliers now know the road ahead in 2026. The ACC released its full football schedule Monday, and UVA's slate reflects a program that’s no longer flying under the radar.
Let’s break it down.
Home Turf Battles at Scott Stadium
Virginia will host six games in Charlottesville this fall, starting with a pair of nonconference matchups against Norfolk State (Sept. 12) and Delaware (Sept. 26). Those early-season games should give the Cavaliers a chance to fine-tune before diving into a challenging ACC schedule.
The conference home lineup includes Syracuse (Oct. 10), Duke (Oct. 23 or 24), Cal (Nov. 14), and North Carolina (Nov.
21). That Duke game could land on a Friday night - a potential primetime spotlight for a team that’s earned the attention.
North Carolina and Cal both bring intriguing storylines. The Tar Heels are always a heated rivalry, and Cal’s cross-country trip to Charlottesville adds a unique flavor to the late-season stretch. These are the kind of games that could shape the ACC standings come November.
Road Tests and Rivalries
Away from home, Virginia faces a balanced but demanding road slate: Florida State (Oct. 3), SMU (Oct.
17), Wake Forest (Oct. 31), and the regular-season finale at Virginia Tech (Nov. 28).
The good news? No back-to-back road games - a subtle but important edge in terms of recovery and preparation.
The trip to Tallahassee early in October could be a tone-setter, while the Commonwealth Clash with Virginia Tech closes out the regular season, as always. That game needs no extra hype, but with both programs pushing to stay in the ACC title conversation, it could carry added weight this year.
Spotlight Games on Neutral Ground
Virginia opens the season in truly historic fashion - not just for the program, but for college football as a whole. On Aug. 29, the Cavaliers face NC State in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of the inaugural College Football Brasil. It’s a Week 0 matchup that will test UVA’s readiness right out of the gate, but also offers a global stage for a team coming off a record-setting year.
Three weeks later, the Cavaliers head to Charlotte to face West Virginia (Sept. 19) at Bank of America Stadium. It’s a rematch of the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl, and a chance to showcase their progress against a Power Five opponent in a high-profile setting.
Building on a Historic Season
Virginia’s 2025 run was nothing short of remarkable. Under head coach Tony Elliott, the Cavaliers posted a school-record 11 wins, capped by a gritty 13-7 win over Missouri in the Gator Bowl. That performance earned Elliott ACC Coach of the Year honors - and rightfully so.
“They believed when everyone around them told them not to,” Elliott said after the Gator Bowl win. “A lot of folks said they weren’t good enough to get to this point.”
That belief powered UVA to a 7-1 mark in conference play - their best ever - and a first-place finish in the ACC regular season standings. It also marked the program’s first trip to the ACC Championship Game since 2019.
Now, the challenge shifts to sustaining that success. The 2026 schedule isn’t a cakewalk, but it’s also not overwhelming. With a strong core returning and the confidence that comes from a top-20 finish, Virginia is in position to prove last season wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Here’s the full 2026 slate for the Cavaliers:
- Aug. 29 - vs. NC State (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- Sept. 5 - OPEN
- Sept. 12 - Norfolk State
- Sept. 19 - vs. West Virginia (Charlotte, N.C.)
- Sept. 26 - Delaware
- Oct. 3 - at Florida State
- **Oct.
10** - Syracuse
- Oct. 17 - at SMU
- Oct. 23/24 - Duke
- Oct. 31 - at Wake Forest
- **Nov.
7** - OPEN
- **Nov.
14** - California
- **Nov.
21** - North Carolina
- Nov. 28 - at Virginia Tech
The pieces are in place. The schedule is set. Now it’s up to Virginia to keep the momentum rolling - and maybe even take the next step.