The 2026 ACC Football season kicks off on Saturday with five ACC teams competing across four Week 0 matchups.
North Carolina will open the season against TCU in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, while NC State and Virginia meet in the first conference game of the season.
Florida State will host New Mexico State, and Stanford will welcome Hawai’i to close out the slate.
NC State at Virginia and New Mexico State at Florida State will feature the ACC’s Enhanced Instant Replay Access, giving viewers live access to real-time replay discussions during the broadcasts.
North Carolina vs. TCU | noon ET
Aer Lingus College Football Classic (Dublin, Ireland)
Series: North Carolina leads series, 3-1
Last meeting: TCU, 48-14 (2025)
TV: ESPN
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 82
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 82
Game Notes
- Billy Edwards Jr. has been named the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback. Edwards spent four seasons in the Big Ten at Maryland and Wisconsin, throwing for 3,435 yards.
- North Carolina is led defensively by preseason All-America DE Melkart Abou Jaoude, who led the conference with 10.5 sacks last season.
- Jordan Shipp returns after being the Tar Heels’ top receiver in 2025 with 671 yards and six touchdowns.
- TCU is coming off a 9-4 season capped by a 30-27 OT victory over #16 USC in the Alamo Bowl. The Horned Frogs closed the season with three consecutive wins.
- TCU will also debut a new starting quarterback, as Harvard transfer Jaden Craig takes over the offense. Craig left Harvard as the program’s career leader in passing yards (6,074) and touchdown passes (52) and set single-season school records with 2,869 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2025.
- TCU’s defense returns safety Jamel Johnson, who totaled 96 tackles and led the Big 12 with five interceptions last season.
NC State at Virginia | 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: NC State leads series, 38-22-1
Last meeting: NC State, 35-31 (2025) *non-conference game
TV: ESPN
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 81 / SiriusXM 84
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 81 / SiriusXM 84
Pregame coverage from AFP
- UVA Football: Depth chart for Week 0 season opener with NC State
- UVA Football: I’m not too confident about Kam Robinson being out there on Saturday
- UVA Football: Solomon Beebe ‘suspended indefinitely’ in wake of arrest
- UVA Football: Rico Flores Jr. listed as ‘out’ on updated pregame injury list
- UVA Football: The home opener with NC State on Saturday is officially sold out
- NC State coach Dave Doeren isn’t going to release a depth chart for the season opener: OK
New Mexico State at Florida State | 7 p.m. ET
Series: Florida State leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: Florida State, 36-0 (1964)
TV: The CW
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 84
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 84
Game Notes
- Duce Robinson leads the Florida State offense again in 2026. Robinson became the first FSU receiver to log a 1,000-yard season since 2019.
- QB1 Ashton Daniels, who played at Auburn last year in 2025, returns to the ACC after leading Stanford in their inaugural season in the ACC in 2024.
- The Seminoles’ backfield features sophomore Ousmane Kromah and Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner, both of whom were named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List. Wisner brings 1,734 career rushing yards and 66 receptions from his three seasons with the Longhorns.
- FSU looks to improve upon its 5-7 (2-6 ACC) season from 2025. The Seminoles’ last bowl appearance came in 2023 after going 13-0 and winning the ACC Football Championship Game.
- The Aggies have named Furman transfer Trey Hedden as their starting QB. Hedden threw for more than 4,700 yards over two seasons with the Paladins.
Hawai’i at Stanford | 7 p.m. ET
Series: Stanford leads series, 4-1
Last meeting: Hawai’i, 23-20 (2025)
TV: ACC Network
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 81
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 81
Game Notes
- Tavita Pritchard will make his head-coaching debut for Stanford after three seasons as quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders.
- Michigan transfer Davis Warren will start at quarterback for Stanford. He started nine games in 2024, completing 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,199 yards and seven touchdowns, before missing 2025 with a torn ACL.
- Stanford linebacker Matt Rose returns after earning second-team All-ACC honors in 2025. He ranked second in the ACC with 106 tackles — the most by a Cardinal player since 2015 — and added eight tackles-for-loss and three sacks.
- Hawai’i enters 2026 following a 9-4 season capped by a 35-31 win over Cal in the Hawai’i Bowl. The Rainbow Warriors earned their most victories since 2019, with wins over Stanford and Cal book-ending the season.
- Hawai’i QB Micah Alejado, the 2025 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, returns after throwing for 3,106 yards and a league-leading 24 touchdowns. He was named the 2026 Mountain West Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
- Hawai’i head coach Timmy Chang enters his fifth season leading his alma mater after guiding Hawai’i to its first bowl appearance and nine-win season since 2019.
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Chris Graham
