University of North Carolina Athletics
Football’s 2027 ACC Opponents Announced
September 16, 2026 | Football
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Carolina's nine-game 2027 football league schedule Wednesday afternoon, headlined by four home matchups and five road games.
The 2027 campaign will mark the first time the Tar Heels have played nine ACC regular-season games since the conference adopted the model last fall.
Carolina will host Duke, Florida State, Virginia and Virginia Tech, while traveling to Louisville, NC State, Stanford, Syracuse and Wake Forest in ACC action.
The Tar Heels will play Virginia Tech for the first time since 2022 and Florida State for the first time since 2024.
The ACC began its transition to the new scheduling structure in 2026. The 2026 season served as the transition year, with 12 programs playing nine ACC games and at least one Power Four non-conference opponent, while five programs are playing eight conference games and at least two Power Four non-conference opponents.
The phased implementation allowed the conference to move toward the expanded league schedule while accommodating previously contracted non-conference games and the scheduling considerations created by the ACC's 17-team membership.
In 2027, the model moves to its next phase, with 16 programs playing nine conference games.
The ACC will unveil the full 2027 football schedule, including all game dates, in late January 2027.
Additionally, the Tar Heels will host North Alabama, UCF and UConn in non-conference games for a total of seven home games at Kenan Stadium in 2027.
Carolina's Home ACC Opponents
Duke, Florida State, Virginia, Virginia Tech
Carolina's Road ACC Opponents
Louisville, NC State, Stanford, Syracuse, Wake Forest
Carolina's Non-Conference Opponents
North Alabama, UCF, UConn
The 2027 campaign will mark the first time the Tar Heels have played nine ACC regular-season games since the conference adopted the model last fall.
Carolina will host Duke, Florida State, Virginia and Virginia Tech, while traveling to Louisville, NC State, Stanford, Syracuse and Wake Forest in ACC action.
The Tar Heels will play Virginia Tech for the first time since 2022 and Florida State for the first time since 2024.
The ACC began its transition to the new scheduling structure in 2026. The 2026 season served as the transition year, with 12 programs playing nine ACC games and at least one Power Four non-conference opponent, while five programs are playing eight conference games and at least two Power Four non-conference opponents.
The phased implementation allowed the conference to move toward the expanded league schedule while accommodating previously contracted non-conference games and the scheduling considerations created by the ACC's 17-team membership.
In 2027, the model moves to its next phase, with 16 programs playing nine conference games.
The ACC will unveil the full 2027 football schedule, including all game dates, in late January 2027.
Additionally, the Tar Heels will host North Alabama, UCF and UConn in non-conference games for a total of seven home games at Kenan Stadium in 2027.
Carolina's Home ACC Opponents
Duke, Florida State, Virginia, Virginia Tech
Carolina's Road ACC Opponents
Louisville, NC State, Stanford, Syracuse, Wake Forest
Carolina's Non-Conference Opponents
North Alabama, UCF, UConn
Friday, September 18
Wednesday, September 16
Tuesday, September 15
Monday, September 14