On Friday morning, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced updated scheduling for Friday contests for the 2026 football season. The updated schedule impacts two games on Clemson’s 2026 schedule.
Clemson’s road game at Syracuse initially selected for flex scheduling for either Nov. 6 or 7 has been confirmed to be played on Saturday, Nov. 7. In addition, Clemson’s road game at Duke initially scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21 has been moved to Friday, Nov. 20.
More information from the ACC is included below.
Charlotte, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference today unveiled its 2026 Friday Football schedule, featuring a dynamic slate of conference showdowns and marquee non-conference matchups throughout the season.
The 2026 lineup continues the ACC’s commitment to delivering high-quality primetime college football games, providing fans with compelling matchups and enhanced national exposure across Fridays in the fall.
As previously announced, the Friday schedule opens in Week 1 with a conference clash as Miami travels to Stanford on Friday, September 4, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Week 2 features a four-game Friday slate with all four games taking place on ACC campuses. The Rutgers at Boston College contest is part of the ACC-ESPN Friday night package and will serve as the Red Bandanna Game on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, while Villanova at Louisville, Richmond at NC State and Norfolk State at Virginia were all moved to September 11 at the request of the institutions.
Conference play intensifies in the weeks that follow, including Miami at Wake Forest in Week 3 (September 18) and Clemson’s road trip to California in Week 4 (September 25). Traditional rivalries and ACC battles continue with Virginia Tech hosting Pitt in head coach James Franklin’s ACC home opener in Week 5 (October 2) and Florida State at Louisville in Week 6 (October 9).
Friday action resumes in Week 8 on October 23 with a pair of matchups, highlighted by a rematch of the 2025 ACC Championship Game when Duke travels to Virginia and NC State plays at Stanford. The Friday schedule continues in Week 10 with Virginia Tech traveling to SMU on November 6, followed by Florida State at Pitt in Week 11 on November 13.
Late-season Friday matchups include Clemson at Duke in Week 12 (November 20) and a marquee in-state rivalry on Black Friday, November 27, in Week 13 as Florida State hosts Florida at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
The complete 2026 ACC Friday Football schedule is as follows:
Week 1 – September 4: Miami at Stanford | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN
Week 2 – September 11: Rutgers at Boston College | TBA
Week 2 – September 11: Villanova at Louisville | TBA
Week 2 – September 11: Richmond at NC State | TBA
Week 2 – September 11: Norfolk State at Virginia | TBA
Week 3 – September 18: Miami at Wake Forest | TBA
Week 4 – September 25: Clemson at California | TBA
Week 5 – October 2: Pitt at Virginia Tech | TBA
Week 6 – October 9: Florida State at Louisville | TBA
Week 8 – October 23: Duke at Virginia | TBA
Week 8 – October 23: NC State at Stanford | TBA
Week 10 – November 6: Virginia Tech at SMU | TBA
Week 11 – November 13: Florida State at Pitt | TBA
Week 12 – November 20: Clemson at Duke | TBA
Week 13 – November 27: Florida at Florida State | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC
As part of the finalization of the 2026 ACC Football Friday schedule, the Virginia Tech at Miami game originally scheduled for November 20 has been moved to Saturday, November 21.
Game times, television designations and additional details for the first three weeks and all Thursday and Friday games will be announced on Wednesday, May 27.