University of North Carolina Athletics
Football’s 2026 ACC Opponents Announced
December 16, 2025 | Football
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Carolina's eight-game 2026 football league schedule Tuesday afternoon, headlined by four home matchups and four road games.
The Tar Heels host Louisville, Miami, NC State and Syracuse, while traveling to Clemson, Duke, Pitt and Virginia in ACC action.
Carolina will play Louisville for the first time since 2017 and Miami for the first time since 2023. The Tar Heels will face five opponents for the second consecutive year (Clemson, Duke, NC State, Syracuse and Virginia) and meet Pitt again following their 2024 matchup.
With the ACC's move to a nine-game conference schedule, each season one team will play eight conference games while the other 16 teams play nine following a transition season in 2026, where five teams will play eight league games.
Additionally, the Tar Heels will play East Tennessee State (9/12), Notre Dame (10/3) and at UConn (11/7) in nonconference action.
Carolina's Nonconference Slate
8/29 vs. TCU (Dublin, Ireland)
9/12 vs. East Tennessee State (Kenan Stadium)
10/3 vs. Notre Dame (Kenan Stadium)
11/7 at UConn (East Hartford, Conn.)
Carolina's Home ACC Opponents
Louisville, Miami, NC State, Syracuse
Carolina's Road ACC Opponents
Clemson, Duke, Pitt, Virginia
The Tar Heels host Louisville, Miami, NC State and Syracuse, while traveling to Clemson, Duke, Pitt and Virginia in ACC action.
Carolina will play Louisville for the first time since 2017 and Miami for the first time since 2023. The Tar Heels will face five opponents for the second consecutive year (Clemson, Duke, NC State, Syracuse and Virginia) and meet Pitt again following their 2024 matchup.
With the ACC's move to a nine-game conference schedule, each season one team will play eight conference games while the other 16 teams play nine following a transition season in 2026, where five teams will play eight league games.
Comprehensive coverage and in-depth analysis of the ACC's 2026 football league opponents will be featured on ACC PM on Tuesday, December 16, at 5 p.m. ET, with further insights on the ACC Network Football Podcast on Wednesday, December 17, at 4 p.m. ET on ACC Network - and streaming on various platforms (Apple, Spotify, etc.).
The ACC will unveil the full 2026 football schedule, including all game dates, in late January 2026.
Carolina opens the 2026 season in Dublin, Ireland, for the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic game against TCU on Saturday, Aug. 29, at Aviva Stadium. Ticket packages can be purchased at http://www.tarheels2ireland.com/.Additionally, the Tar Heels will play East Tennessee State (9/12), Notre Dame (10/3) and at UConn (11/7) in nonconference action.
Carolina's Nonconference Slate
8/29 vs. TCU (Dublin, Ireland)
9/12 vs. East Tennessee State (Kenan Stadium)
10/3 vs. Notre Dame (Kenan Stadium)
11/7 at UConn (East Hartford, Conn.)
Carolina's Home ACC Opponents
Louisville, Miami, NC State, Syracuse
Carolina's Road ACC Opponents
Clemson, Duke, Pitt, Virginia
WBB: Post-Louisville Press Conference - December 14, 2025
Monday, December 15
UNC Men's Basketball: Wilson, Powell Lead 80-62 Win Over USC Upstate
Saturday, December 13
UNC Wrestling: #22 Carolina Downs #17 West Virginia in Carmichael, 27-7
Saturday, December 13
Hubert Davis Post-Georgetown Press Conference
Monday, December 08