NC State’s 2026 football schedule is out. Here’s a look, with games to watch

After questions about N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren’s future with the football program in 2025, he returns to the sideline this fall with a loaded schedule.

The Wolfpack finished last season with an 8-5 record, winning four of its last five games, including a Gasparilla Bowl victory.

N.C. State has averaged 7.3 wins in 13 seasons under Doeren, and averaged eight wins in the last six seasons. It has not won 10 or more games during Doeren’s tenure, and the only double-digit win season came in 2002 with quarterback Phillip Rivers and head coach Chuck Amato.

In order for N.C. State to repeat with another winning season or position itself to compete toward the top of the ACC, it has a solid schedule ahead.

The upcoming slate features matchups against six 2025 bowl-eligible teams: Duke, Wake Forest, California, Louisville, Virginia and a nonconference tilt at Vanderbilt.

Three games — Stanford, California and Duke — do not have finalized dates as part of the Friday/Saturday flex option. Confirmed dates will be announced at a later time.

N.C. State is one of 12 ACC teams playing a nine-game conference schedule. The remaining five teams will play eight league contests and two Power Four nonconference opponents. This is part of the conference’s transition year, which aims to balance competitive equity, existing nonconference game agreements and the 17-team contingent. In the future, 16 teams will play nine ACC games and one will play eight with two P4 nonconference opponents.

The schedule also includes games against Appalachian State and Florida State who finished 5-7 overall but received bowl game invitations due to bowl game opt outs. FSU did not participate but the Mountaineers played Georgia State in the Birmingham Bowl.

The Wolfpack, however, gets out of playing four of last year’s top six teams: Miami, Georgia Tech, SMU and Pitt. It also avoids Clemson and Virginia Tech, led by former Penn State head coach James Franklin.

N.C. State’s schedule features plenty of balance with few stretches that are particularly easy or particularly difficult, as well.

This all sets up what could be a relatively favorable schedule for N.C. State.

Can’t miss game

N.C. State vs Virginia in Brazil, Aug. 29: The Wolfpack and Cavaliers play a historic game during Week 0, facing off in the first FBS football game played in South America. The matchup, to be hosted in Rio de Janeiro, is the first international trip for both teams.

This game was originally scheduled as part of a nonconference series but was switched to a conference game to accommodate the ACC’s updated scheduling model. The first of the two games was played in Raleigh last year. N.C. State won 35-31 on Cian Slone’s end zone interception.

Not only will this be a memorable game due to the location, it will also be the first chance to see an updated Wolfpack roster and how the Cavaliers respond after one of the best seasons in program history.

The Cavaliers rank No. 8 in the ACC for its transfer portal class and No. 17 overall.

Toughest stretch

N.C. State’s most difficult stretch will likely be in November. It hosts Duke on Nov. 6 or 7, Syracuse on Nov. 14 and finishes the season on the road at Florida State (Nov. 21) and North Carolina (Nov. 28).

The Pack has succeeded against the Seminoles and the Tar Heels in the most recent matchups. Three of the last four road games at Carolina, however, have come down to one possession. Florida State, despite its struggles the last two years, owns a 27-17 overall series lead against the Wolfpack.

Syracuse has beaten N.C. State in the last two meetings. Duke, meanwhile, boasts three straight victories and five of the last six. The Wolfpack has not beaten the Blue Devils at home since Sept. 19, 2020.

Easiest stretch

Late October should be the easiest stretch for the Wolfpack. It has a second bye on the week of Oct. 17, after playing three ACC games and at Vanderbilt. Then, it plays at Stanford and hosts California.

California, though it was better in 2025 and earned bowl eligibility, will join Stanford in being under a new coaching staff. While that does not guarantee Wolfpack victories, first years are often the hardest for new coaches.

Notable nonconference matchup

At Vanderbilt, Sept. 19: The Wolfpack heads to Nashville for an early nonconference game against the Commodores. Vanderbilt is coming off a 10-3 season after going 6-2 in SEC play.

Head coach Clark Lea earned back-to-back Coach of the Year honors, but quarterback and Heisman finalist Diego Pavia exhausted his eligibility.

N.C. State will be Vanderbilt’s first FBS opponent of the 2026 season and the first meeting between the two programs since Dec. 26, 2016 when N.C. State beat Vanderbilt, 41-17, to win the Independence Bowl.

The Wolfpack will reunite with offensive lineman Lyndon Cooper. Cooper spent three seasons at N.C. State, redshirting one season, before spending last season at Pittsburgh. He committed to Vanderbilt as a transfer earlier this month.

Filled with intrigue

Wake Forest, Oct. 10: Jake Dickert joined Tony Elliott in accomplishing one of the best turnarounds in the ACC, but he did it in Year 1. Dickert led the Demon Deacons to a 10-4 overall record and 4-4 record in conference play. Wake Forest won four of its last five games, including wins against UNC and Virginia.

Wake Forest led in the 2025 meeting, but a strong second half pushed N.C. State into the win column.

Former Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez, former Group of 5 standout, struggled at Carolina, which was one of the worst offenses in Power Four. He transferred to Wake Forest in the offseason.

Dickert and his staff, however, helped develop Robby Ashford into a solid mobile QB. Ashford, a transfer from Auburn and South Carolina, finished with nearly 2,500 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 554 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

This has always been an underrated rivalry game for the Wolfpack, and it will be interesting to see what the Deacs can do with Lopez.

2026 NC State football schedule

*ACC game

^ College Football Brasil