The Wolfpack handed the Cavs one of their only losses earlier this season. Ryan M. Kelly / Getty Images
NC State and Virginia will open the 2026 season in Rio de Janeiro, becoming the first-ever FBS game played in Brazil.
A new event, College Football Brasil, is set to take place on Aug. 29, 2026, in Week 0, at Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, organizers announced on Monday.
Though the participants are both ACC schools, the game is the second leg of a previously scheduled nonconference home-and-home that would have been played at Virginia next season. The Wolfpack beat the Cavaliers, 35-31, in Raleigh, N.C. early this season.
The Brazil game was organized by NIL firm Athlete Advantage in partnership with Brasil Sports Business, and will be televised on an ESPN network.
College football has been embracing more international events in recent years, beginning with the now-annual Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, Ireland. Iowa State beat Kansas State there in Week 0 this season. Arizona State and Kansas are headed to London in Week 3 next season for the first Union Jack Classic. Michigan announced this summer it was in talks to move its 2026 opener against Western Michigan to Frankfurt, Germany, but announced in early November the game would be played in Ann Arbor.
Virginia, 10-2, is playing Duke in the ACC championship game this weekend. NC State finished its regular season 7-5.
Dec 1, 2025
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