Is NC State football heading to Brazil to play Virginia? What the school says
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- NC State will play Virginia in Brazil during Week 0 of 2026 as an ACC road game.
- This marks both programs' first international game, continuing ACC global scheduling.
- NC State has previously adjusted nonconference matchups for 2026.
Could N.C. State be the second football team in the Triangle to play an international game in 2026?
There has been no official announcement from N.C. State’s program. But on Wednesday, Annabelle Myers, an N.C. State football spokesperson, referenced a rumored 2026 game between the Wolfpack and Virginia in Brazil, saying “I know everybody has a lot of questions about one of our road games next year, discussions are ongoing. When we have details, we will share them with you.”
A game in Brazil would be the first international football game in the history of both programs, though the ACC is not unfamiliar with scheduling international contests. Most recently, Georgia Tech defeated Florida State, 24-21, in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
North Carolina is scheduled to face TCU on Aug. 29 in the event next year, around the same time as N.C. State is expected to be in Brazil. UNC and the City of Dublin announced the game in April during a press conference at Kenan Football Center.
NC State’s recent rescheduled matchups
The Cavaliers and Wolfpack were originally scheduled to play a nonconference game in 2026, as part of a home-and-home series. Virginia, however, replaced Appalachian State this season and Louisiana Tech before that.
App State planned to host N.C. State this past Sept. 6, but changes to ACC scheduling requirements led to the game’s postponement until Sept. 30, 2028.
N.C. State is still set to host App State on Sept. 26, 2026, which was part of the original agreement. The Wolfpack agreed to pay the Mountaineers $300,000 for rescheduling the 2025 game.
The Wolfpack hosted Louisiana Tech in 2021 and 2024. It scheduled a road game for Sept. 6 of this year. That game was rescheduled twice but is now set for 2027.
NC State-Virginia recent football history
N.C. State beat Virginia 35-31 in Week 2 nonconference game this season at Carter-Finley Stadium. Defensive end Cian Slone intercepted a pass in the end zone on the Hoos’ final drive of the game to seal the team’s victory.
The Wolfpack trailed by 10 points at halftime, before scoring 21 points in the third quarter. Quarterback CJ Bailey accounted for three touchdowns, one pass to Noah Rogers and two rushing scores, to help lift N.C. State to its second win of the season.
The Pack leads the all-time series, 37-21-1, and has won four straight games against the Cavaliers and six of the last seven.
