2026 Pitt Football Schedule: Complete Dates, Times, TV and Key Matchups for Pitt Panthers Football

The 2026 NC State Football Schedule takes an unusual shape before settling into a familiar ACC rhythm. A road trip to Virginia to open the year. A bye week before the home opener even happens. And a late-October flight to Stanford that kicks off well past most fans’ bedtimes. For NC State Wolfpack football, the early travel quirks and the late rivalry closer against North Carolina will define the season. Here is the complete 2026 NC State Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.

Virginia Road Opener and an Unexpected Pause

Road start, bye, then the first home date

• Virginia in Charlottesville
• Bye on September 5
• Richmond under the lights
• Vanderbilt in Nashville
• Appalachian State at home
• Louisville at home

The NC State Football Schedule begins with a road loss at Virginia and an immediate bye. Richmond provides the first home win before another road test at Vanderbilt. Appalachian State and Louisville then give the Wolfpack consecutive home opportunities.

West Coast Challenge After the Second Pause

Wake Forest home, bye, then Stanford late

• Wake Forest at Carter-Finley
• Second bye week
• Stanford at 10:30 p.m. ET

Wake Forest arrives before the second bye. The NC State ACC schedule 2026 then sends the team across the country for a Friday night game at Stanford Stadium that does not kick off until most of the East Coast is asleep.

Home Dates Before the Final Road Tests

California, Duke and Syracuse in Raleigh

• California for Homecoming
• Duke at home
• Syracuse at home

California’s visit for Homecoming offers a chance to regroup. Duke and Syracuse keep the Wolfpack at Carter-Finley for two more weeks, creating a window to stack wins before the closing road pair.

Closing Road Pair and the In-State Rivalry

Florida State away, then NC State vs North Carolina 2026

• Florida State in Tallahassee
• North Carolina in Chapel Hill
• ACC Championship possibility

The final stretch begins with a road game at Florida State. NC State vs North Carolina 2026 closes the regular season at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

NC State Football Home Games 2026

Seven home dates at Carter-Finley Stadium:

• Richmond
• Appalachian State
• Louisville
• Wake Forest
• California
• Duke
• Syracuse

The 2026 NC State Football Schedule challenges NC State Wolfpack football from the opening road trip through the final regular-season rivalry game. Seven home games at Carter-Finley Stadium provide a solid base, while the early Virginia and Vanderbilt trips, the late-night Stanford flight, and the closing stretch against Florida State and North Carolina will determine the ceiling. How the Wolfpack responds to those high-stakes windows will shape the entire season narrative.

FAQ

When does NC State football play its first game in 2026?
NC State opens the 2026 NC State Football Schedule on the road against Virginia on Saturday, August 29, at Scott Stadium.

When is NC State vs North Carolina 2026?
NC State vs North Carolina 2026 closes the regular season on Saturday, November 28, on the road at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill.

How many home games does NC State play in 2026?
NC State has seven NC State football home games in 2026 at Carter-Finley Stadium: Richmond, Appalachian State, Louisville, Wake Forest, California, Duke, and Syracuse.

What is NC State’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The late-October flight to Stanford, sandwiched between two bye weeks, is the most unusual and demanding travel stretch on the NC State ACC schedule 2026, with the closing road trip to Florida State and North Carolina adding to the difficulty in November.