Miami announced plans to return to the College Football Playoff national championship game after finishing as runner-up last January. The Hurricanes upgraded their roster through the transfer portal this offseason.
The program landed former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, the reigning ACC Championship Game MVP. Mensah brings his top wide receiver target Cooper Barkate with him to Miami.
Duke looks to reload under Manny Diaz after losing those key players to the transfer portal. The Blue Devils are the defending ACC champions.
Clemson aims to bounce back from a disappointing 7-6 season last year.
Other top contenders include No. 21 Louisville, which added Ohio State transfer quarterback Lincoln Kienholz. No. 22 SMU returns with signal-caller Kevin Jennings.
The ACC’s top coaches and players will meet with media ahead of the season. Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 ACC Football Kickoff.
Where to watch ACC Football Kickoff 2026: TV channel, live stream
ACC Network and ACCNX will air coverage of the ACC Football Kickoff live. Select programming will also simulcast on ESPN2.
Viewers can stream the event with fubo or the ESPN app.
Fubo streams ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 200+ top channels without cable.
ACC Football Kickoff 2026 schedule
• Dates: Wednesday, July 15 – Friday, July 17
The complete broadcast schedule spans three days.
Wednesday, July 15
| Time (ET) | Team | Speakers | TV channel, live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. | — | ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. | ACCN, fubo, ESPN app |
| 11 a.m. | Miami | HC Mario Cristobal, RB Mark Fletcher Jr., QB Darian Mensah, LB Mohamed Toure | ACCN |
| 12 p.m. | Florida State | HC Mike Norvell, QB Ashton Daniels, DB Ja’Bril Rawls, WR Duce Robinson | ACCN |
| 1 p.m. | Stanford | HC Tavita Pritchard, RB Micah Ford, DB Jay Green, QB Davis Warren | ACCN |
| 2 p.m. | NC State | HC Dave Doeren, QB CJ Bailey, RB Duke Scott, DT Isaiah Shirley | ACCN |
| 3 p.m. | Virginia | HC Tony Elliott, OL McKale Boley, QB Beau Pribula, LB Kam Robinson | ACCN |
Thursday, July 16
| Time (ET) | Team | Speakers | TV channel, live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 a.m. | Virginia Tech | HC James Franklin, DL Kemari Copeland, S Tyson Flowers, RB Marcellous Hawkins | ACCN, fubo, ESPN app |
| 11 a.m. | Louisville | HC Jeff Brohm, QB Lincoln Kienholz, DL Clev Lubin, OL Lance Robinson | ACCN |
| 12 p.m. | Syracuse | HC Fran Brown, QB Steve Angeli, LB Antoine Deslauriers, DB Demetres Samuel Jr. | ACCN |
| 1 p.m. | Boston College | HC Bill O’Brien, QB Mason McKenzie, WR Anthony Palano, DB KP Price | ACCN |
| 2 p.m. | Georgia Tech | HC Brent Key, LB Kyle Efford, RB Justice Haynes, RB Malachi Hosley | ACCN |
| 3 p.m. | Clemson | HC Dabo Swinney, LB Sammy Brown, DE Will Heldt, TE Olsen Patt-Henry | ACCN |
Friday, July 17
| Time (ET) | Team | Speakers | TV channel, live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 a.m. | SMU | HC Rhett Lashlee, LB Brandon Booker, QB Kevin Jennings, DB PJ Williams | ACCN, fubo, ESPN app |
| 11 a.m. | Pitt | HC Pat Narduzzi, OL Ryan Baer, QB Mason Heintschel, LB Braylan Lovelace | ACCN |
| 12 p.m. | California | HC Tosh Lupoi, DB Ricky Fletcher, RB Adam Mohammed, QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele | ACCN |
| 1 p.m. | Wake Forest | HC Jake Dickert, DE Langston Hardy, QB Gio Lopez, DB Davaughn Patterson | ACCN |
| 2 p.m. | North Carolina | HC Bill Belichick, LB Melkart Abou Jaoude, OL Christo Kelly, WR Jordan Shipp | ACCN |
| 3 p.m. | Duke | HC Manny Diaz, LB Jeremiah Hasley, LB Luke Mergott, RB Nate Sheppard | ACCN |
Bill Belichick will make his first appearance as North Carolina’s head coach on Friday afternoon. The former NFL coach takes over a Tar Heels program looking to compete in the conference.
The three-day event sets the stage for what promises to be a competitive 2026 ACC season.
