An NC State opener before September even starts. A neutral-site game against West Virginia in Charlotte. And the Commonwealth Cup closing out the regular season in Blacksburg. The 2026 Virginia football schedule carries real rivalry weight on both ends of the calendar.
2026 Virginia Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 29 | NC State Wolfpack | Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | 3:30 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Sep 5 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Fri, Sep 11 | Norfolk State Spartans | Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | 7:00 PM | ACCNX |
| Sat, Sep 19 | vs West Virginia Mountaineers | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 7:30 PM | ACCN |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Delaware Blue Hens | Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | Time TBA | ESPN network |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at Florida State Seminoles | Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | Syracuse Orange (Homecoming) | Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | at SMU Mustangs | Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Oct 23 | Duke Blue Devils | Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Allegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Nov 14 | California Golden Bears | Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | North Carolina Tar Heels | Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Virginia Tech Hokies (Commonwealth Cup) | Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Dec 5 | ACC Championship | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 12:00 PM | ABC |
An Early Opener, Then a Neutral-Site Rivalry
Virginia opens the 2026 Virginia football schedule against NC State on a Saturday in late August, before a bye week on September 5 gives the Cavaliers an early breather. Norfolk State visits for a Friday night home game, then Virginia heads to Charlotte for a neutral-site clash with West Virginia — a rivalry renewed away from either campus.
A Manageable Middle, Then Florida State Looms
Delaware gives Scott Stadium a home date before the Virginia ACC schedule 2026 turns difficult. A trip to Florida State opens October, followed by Syracuse visiting for Homecoming and a road trip to SMU — two ranked-caliber tests inside a three-week stretch.
Duke Under the Lights, Then a Road Trip to Wake Forest
Duke visits Charlottesville for a Friday night game on October 23, one of the better home atmospheres of the season, before Virginia closes out the month on the road at Wake Forest. A bye week on November 7 sets up the final stretch.
California, North Carolina, and the Commonwealth Cup
California and North Carolina both visit Scott Stadium in consecutive weeks before Virginia vs Virginia Tech 2026 closes the regular season at Lane Stadium on November 28 — the Commonwealth Cup, a rivalry that never needs extra stakes attached. If Virginia is still playing December 5, it’s in Charlotte for the ACC Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between the West Virginia neutral-site game and the Commonwealth Cup finale, Virginia’s schedule bookends the season with two of its most emotionally charged matchups. The Virginia football home games in 2026 offer plenty of support in between, but how the Cavaliers handle Florida State and SMU on the road will decide whether the season builds toward something meaningful by the time Blacksburg arrives.
FAQ
Q: When does Virginia football play its first game in 2026?
A: Virginia opens the 2026 Virginia football schedule at home against NC State on Saturday, August 29, at Scott Stadium.
Q: When is Virginia vs Virginia Tech 2026?
A: Virginia vs Virginia Tech 2026, the Commonwealth Cup, is set for Saturday, November 28, on the road at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg.
Q: How many home games does Virginia play in 2026?
A: Virginia has seven Virginia football home games in 2026 at Scott Stadium: NC State, Norfolk State, Delaware, Syracuse, Duke, California, and North Carolina.
Q: What is Virginia’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from Florida State (road) through Syracuse (home) and SMU (road) — October 3 through October 17 — is the toughest stretch on the Virginia ACC schedule 2026, ahead of the Commonwealth Cup finale in November.
