The 2026 college football season will see its first conference game of the year in a rare Week 0 matchup featuring ACC opponents North Carolina State vs Virginia.
The game, originally scheduled to be played in Brazil, has since been moved to the Cavaliers' Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia. But that won't take away from what should be a fascinating early-season matchup: The Cavaliers and fifth-year coach Tony Elliott are coming off an 11-3 season that saw them make the ACC championship game, while Dave Doeren's squad comes off an 8-5 campaign.
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The 2026 college football season will be a telling one for the ACC, which saw its only College Football Playoff participant, Miami, miss out on the conference
title game due to convoluted tiebreaker rules. With the Hurricanes' loss to Indiana in the 2026 CFP championship game, the ACC is still looking for its first championship since the 2018 season, when Clemson reigned over the college football landscape.
Here's how to watch NC State take on Virginia in Week 0, including time, TV channel, streaming options, odds and more:
What TV channel is NC State vs Virginia on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
The Week 0 ACC game between NC State and Virginia will air nationally live on ESPN, with the lead ACC Network team of Wes Durham, Max Browne and Madison Fitzpatrick on the call.
Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a valid cable login) or Fubo, which covers the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
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NC State vs Virginia start time today
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Scott Stadium (Charlottesville, Virginia)
The Week 0 ACC game between the Wolfpack and Cavaliers is scheduled to begin on Aug. 29 at 3:30 p.m. ET from Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. The game was originally scheduled to be played in Brazil, though the game has since moved to Virginia's home field.
NC State vs Virginia injury reports
Injuries based off official ACC injury report on Aug. 26. This section will be updated.
NC STATE
- Nickel Isaiah Crowell (OUT)
- Receiver Teddy Hoffmann (OUT)
- Tight End Gus Ritchey (OUT)
- Offensive lineman Rylan Vann (OUT)
- Receiver Tyreek Copper (OUT)
- Nose guard Carmelo McKenzie (OUT)
- Defensive end JJ Ferguson Jr. (OUT)
Virginia
- Receiver Rico Flores Jr. (OUT)
- Kicker Tim Hamann (OUT)
- Receiver Dillon Newton-Short (OUT)
- Receiver Triston Ward (OUT)
- Defensive back Alex Dunn (OUT)
- Running back Solomon Beebe (OUT)
- Running back Jack Stevens (OUT)
- Linebacker Isaiah Reese (OUT)
- Defensive tackle Chase Morrison (OUT)
- Defensive tackle Tyler Simmons (OUT)
- Offensive lineman Noah Hartsoe (OUT)
- Offensive lineman Grant Ellinger (OUT)
- Receiver Isaiah Robinson (OUT)
- Tight end Lukas Ungar (OUT)
- Defensive end Ezekiel Larry (OUT)
- Defensive tackle Bull Richardson (OUT)
- Safety Corey Costner (QUESTIONABLE)
- Linebacker Kam Robinson (QUESTIONABLE)
NC State vs Virginia predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Aug. 26
- Odds: Virginia (-4.5)
- Over/under: 53.5 points
- Moneyline: Virginia (-190) | NC State (+155)
Prediction: Virginia 24, NC State 20
Virginia enters the 2026 season having not only lost starting quarterback Chandler Morris to the NFL after he was denied a waiver for a seventh year of eligibility, but also its top three rushers and receivers from a squad that went 11-3 in 2025.
NC State has similar attrition in key areas, losing lead rusher Hollywood Smothers and its top three receivers from a year ago. The Wolfpack do, however, return starting quarterback CJ Bailey, a 3,100-yard passer who threw for 25 touchdowns to only nine interceptions. He'll take on Virginia counterpart Beau Pribula, who won the starting job after transferring from Missouri.
Look for both teams to get a feel for their new playmakers as Virginia ekes out a lower-scoring affair than anticipated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where to watch NC State vs Virginia football today: Time, TV channel for Week 0 ACC game
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