CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – A year ago, prognosticators pegged Virginia’s football schedule as one of the ACC’s more manageable, a favorable slate that UVA turned into a record-setting season.

The Cavaliers went 11-3, won the ACC’s regular-season championship and came within an overtime loss to Duke in the league title game of making the College Football Playoff.

How does the 2026 schedule look?

From a competitive standpoint, there are, once again, a lot of favorable elements for the ‘Hoos.

Virginia won’t face Miami, Louisville or Clemson in 2026 – a trio that figures to be among the best in the league.

Only half of UVA’s 12 regular-season games will be against teams that went to a bowl game in 2025 – California, Delaware, Duke, N.C. State, SMU and Wake Forest.

Virginia won’t have to play back-to-back road games at any point this season, and even the two neutral site games on the schedule are followed by home dates.

Of course, its hard to project just what kind of a team UVA will be in 2026. Like programs across the country, Tony Elliott’s squad has a roster largely remade by transfer portal additions. Quarterback Chandler Morris, running back J’Mari Taylor and defensive end Mitchell Melton are all gone, and Missouri transfer Beau Pribula and Pittsburgh transfer Eli Holstein will have to compete to replace Morris.

Similarly, it’s difficult to know how strong the Cavaliers’ scheduled opponents will actually be.

For now, here are five takeaways from Virginia’s schedule:

 

Neutral site games to provide early tests

Virginia won’t play a true road game until traveling to Tallahassee, Fla. on Oct. 3 to face Florida State.

But unlike this past season, when the Cavaliers had the chance to get cozy at home, playing four of their first five games at Scott Stadium, this year’s schedule will force them to pack their bags.

UVA opens against North Carolina State in an ACC game that is being played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Aug. 29. Game 3 is against West Virginia in Charlotte, bringing UVA back to the site of its conference title game loss to Duke.

 

Another November open date

This past season, the Cavaliers had their open dates on Oct. 11 and Nov. 22, the latter setting them up to be well rested for their annual rivalry clash with Virginia Tech.

This season, the first comes early, on Sept. 5, after coming back from Brazil. The second comes on Nov. 7, between games against Wake Forest and Cal.

In between, the two open weekends, Virginia will play eight straight games, including West Virginia in Charlotte and at FSU and SMU.

 

The final exams are the test

Starting on Oct. 17 in Dallas, UVA plays four straight games against teams that went to bowls in 2025 (SMU, Duke, Wake Forest and Cal), then face Bill Belichick and UNC in Charlottesville before playing at rival Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers haven’t won at Lane Stadium since 1998.

Virginia is just 5-9 under Tony Elliott in November games, though it did go 3-1 in the final month of the regular season this past year.

 

A ho-hum home slate

Maybe the most challenging part of the 2026 schedule will be selling tickets for a lackluster slate of opponents at Scott Stadium.

Virginia’s six home games don’t exactly scream headliners for a marquee. Norfolk State and Delaware are two non-conference opponents who won’t exactly light a fire under fans, and the ACC rotation doesn’t send any of the league’s big football brands – Clemson, Miami, SMU, Florida State – to Scott Stadium in 2026.

Instead, UVA hosts Syracuse, Duke, Cal and North Carolina, a home lineup that would be far more enticing on the basketball court. After going 6-1 at Scott in 2025, the Cavaliers should again make a habit of sending the home fans happy.

 

No Thursday games, again

The Cavaliers don’t have a Thursday night game, home or away, on this year’s schedule. UVA hasn’t played on Thursday night since losing at Louisville in 2023.

The Cavaliers game against Duke could be a Friday nighter. The schedule currently lists the rematch of the ACC title game as Oct. 23 or 24. Arguably the most memorable moment of the 2025 campaign came when Virginia defeated then-No. 8 Florida State in double-overtime on a Friday night.

 

UVA’s 2026 football schedule

Aug. 29: vs. N.C. State (Brazil)

Sept. 12: vs. Norfolk State

Sept. 19: vs. West Virginia (Charlotte, N.C.)

Sept. 26: vs. Delaware

Oct. 3: at Florida State

Oct. 10: vs. Syracuse

Oct. 17: at SMU

Oct. 24: vs. Duke

Oct. 31: at Wake Forest

Nov. 7: OFF

Nov. 14: vs. California

Nov. 21: vs. North Carolina

Nov. 28: at Virginia Tech