With the 2025 season reaching its near end, the buzz for 2026 is already building. As NC State and Virginia are preparing to make conference history by playing the first-ever college football game outside America next year. At first, the Wolfpack and Cavaliers were scheduled for a non-conference matchup in Charlottesville, but now reports confirm that they are expected to meet on Labour Day weekend as a part of an international ACC event.

Both teams are going overseas to play in Brazil since Georgia Tech defeated Florida State with a 24-21 record in Dublin last year. As NC State’s editor, Cory Smith gives an update on X: “BREAKING: NC State and Virginia are set to play a game in Brazil in 2026, according to @PackPride sources. It will count as an ACC contest, with the two teams playing the first-ever game in Brazil and the first international game for both teams.”

ACC just had four other international matchups that began with Clemson’s matchup against Wake Forest in Tokyo back in 1982. This move of taking the contest to Brazil is one of the most ambitious global efforts of the league. The two programs recently met in Week 2, where NC State came up strong against Virginia with a 35-31 finish. This marked Virginia’s only non-conference loss of the year.

Talking of history, NC State leads the series with a 37-21-1 record, winning four straight and six of the last seven games. Their rivalry goes way back to 1904, with three neutral-site matchups in Norfolk, where the Wolfpack held a 2-1 advantage. And none of these games were played outside the United States, which makes this trip to Brazil a major milestone for both teams.

For now, Virginia remains in the mix for the ACC Championship game, going 9-2 in their fourth season under head coach Tony Elliot, and also holds a chance to make it to the playoffs, holding the No. 19 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings after Week 12. But the Wolfpack is still trying to fight for a bowl game appearance with a 5-5 record, losing five of their last seven games after a 3-0 start. As the season concludes with recruiting and off-season hustle, even their team might look strong till the 2026 season.

It’s pretty evident that college football is gaining momentum internationally, especially after Iowa State opened this season with an Aer Lingus College Football Classic win over Kansas State in Dublin. Now, after that success, even ACC is trying to set the stage for players and their teams in the global market. This move will grab international players’ attention and might boost their recruiting trail.

Now, playing in Brazil might be a new stop for college football, but the NFL has already made the country its regular playing ground.

Brazil makes its way to college football

The NFL has already started expanding its games to Brazil, even though college football has never played a single game there. Over the last two seasons, Brazil hosted games between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, which was the first NFL game ever played outside America, and then the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers game was also played there.

Best part: the NFL is planning on returning there again in 2026 with another game at Rio de Janeiro’s famous Maracanã Stadium. This shows how rapidly American football is growing in that region.

Now, college football has expanded to Dublin, playing early-season games for years. And Ireland will reportedly continue that tradition through 2037. Next year, North Carolina will face TCU in Ireland, starting their Week 0 game.

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Now, if the same happens for NC State and Virginia, too, it will be more than just historic. It will give both programs the recognition they have been looking for for years and will also reshape their conference path.