NC State opens with a conference game on day one: the Wolfpack visit Virginia on Saturday, August 29 in Charlottesville — a matchup originally slated for São Paulo, Brazil before the ACC moved it stateside. From there, Dave Doeren’s team gets seven games at Carter-Finley Stadium, two open dates, and a closing stretch that ends with back-to-back road trips to Florida State and North Carolina.
Kickoff times for most ACC games are announced 6-12 days out, so check back weekly — this page is updated as times, networks, and results come in.
2026 Team Schedule
NC State Wolfpack Football Schedule
ACC · Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh · Dave Doeren
Season Opener
Aug 29
at Virginia (Charlottesville)
Home Games
7
All at Carter-Finley
Open Dates
2
Sept 5 and Oct 17
Circle It
Nov 28
Rivalry finale at UNC
Full 2026 NC State Football Schedule
| Date |
Opponent |
Time (ET) / TV |
Result |
| Sat, Aug 29 |
at Virginia |
3:30 PM · ESPN |
— |
| Sat, Sept 5 |
Bye week |
— |
— |
| Sat, Sept 12 |
vs Richmond |
TBA |
— |
| Sat, Sept 19 |
at Vanderbilt |
TBA |
— |
| Sat, Sept 26 |
vs Appalachian State |
TBA |
— |
| Sat, Oct 3 |
vs Louisville |
TBA |
— |
| Sat, Oct 10 |
vs Wake Forest |
TBA |
— |
| Sat, Oct 17 |
Bye week |
— |
— |
| Fri/Sat, Oct 23-24 |
at Stanford |
TBA |
— |
| Fri/Sat, Oct 30-31 |
vs California |
TBA |
— |
| Fri/Sat, Nov 6-7 |
vs Duke |
TBA |
— |
| Sat, Nov 14 |
vs Syracuse |
TBA |
— |
| Sat, Nov 21 |
at Florida State |
TBA |
— |
| Sat, Nov 28 |
at North Carolina |
TBA |
— |
Games That Will Decide NC State’s Season
| Game |
Date |
Why It Matters |
| at Virginia |
Aug 29 |
A conference game on opening weekend — an early ACC tiebreaker chip in Charlottesville |
| at Vanderbilt |
Sept 19 |
The required Power 4 nonconference test, in Nashville |
| vs Duke |
Nov 6-7 |
In-state ACC stakes at Carter-Finley in the season’s final home stand |
| at North Carolina |
Nov 28 |
The rivalry closer in Chapel Hill — NC State won last year’s meeting in Raleigh |
Fast Fact
The opener was originally set for São Paulo, Brazil before being relocated to Charlottesville — and the week-one bye built around that trip stayed on the calendar.
Fast Fact
Five straight games run through Carter-Finley or nearby between late September and mid-November — App State, Louisville, Wake Forest, Cal, Duke, and Syracuse all visit Raleigh.
Fast Fact
Richmond’s September 12 visit is the first meeting since 2013, and App State comes to Raleigh for the first time since 2006.
How the Schedule Sets Up
This is one of the friendliest paths in the ACC: seven home games, two byes, and no Clemson, Miami, or SMU on the slate. The season funnels toward a brutal finish — Florida State and North Carolina in back-to-back road weeks — but a hot start through the home-heavy middle could have the Wolfpack in the conference race by then. We covered the opener in our NC State vs Virginia preview, and the scheduling framework behind conference openers like it sits with the ACC and the NCAA.
The Bottom Line
An ACC-opening road test, a home-loaded middle, and a rivalry-stacked finish — NC State’s 2026 schedule offers a real runway if Doeren’s team takes care of Carter-Finley. Bookmark this page — times, networks, and results are updated throughout the season.
