NC State, Virginia to open 2026 in first FBS game in Brazil
Sep 6, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack offensive lineman Rico Jackson (64) tackles Virginia Cavaliers running back J'Mari Taylor (3) during the first half of the game at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images Virginia and North Carolina State will kick off next season with the first-ever FBS game in Brazil, organizers announced Monday.
The Cavaliers and Wolfpack will clash on Aug. 29, 2026 at 47,000-seat Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The game will air on ESPN.
The contest was organized by the NIL firm Athlete Advantage in partnership with Brasil Sports Business.
Although both schools are in the Atlantic Coast Conference, this is the second leg of a non-conference home-and-home series that had been scheduled to take place in Charlottesville, Va.
NC State (7-5, 4-4 ACC) earned a 35-31 victory against Virginia on Sept. 6 in Raleigh, N.C. It was one of just two losses this season for the 18th-ranked Cavaliers (10-2, 7-1) as they enter Saturday's ACC championship game against Duke in Charlotte.
College football games also are scheduled to take place on foreign soil next season in Dublin, Ireland (North Carolina vs. TCU on Aug. 29) and London (Arizona State vs. Kansas on Sept. 19).
--Field Level Media
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