Los Angeles, CA – NC State Football will open the 2026 season by taking part in the historic College Football Brasil – the first-ever FBS college football game played in South America. The ACC matchup between NC State and Virginia is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, at Nilton Santos Stadium (Engenhão) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The event will showcase American college football on a global stage, uniting student-athletes, universities, fans, and communities across two continents. College Football Brasil is powered by Athlete Advantage, in partnership with Brasil Sports Business, and with the full support of the Governor of the Rio de Janeiro State, Claudio Castro, and the city of Rio de Janeiro through the Mayor Eduardo Paes, highlighting one of the world’s premier sports cities.
“College Football Brasil represents an extraordinary opportunity for two incredible universities and their football programs to showcase the best of our sport on an international stage while creating unforgettable experiences for student-athletes, fans, and the communities that support them,” said Athlete Advantage CEO, Crowley Sullivan. “Rio is the perfect setting for an event of this magnitude, given its unmatched passion for sport and ability to host world-class competition. We are proud to work alongside Brasil Sports Business and Brazilian authorities to make this historic event possible.”
The name College Football Brasil intentionally blends English and Portuguese to symbolize the cultural connection at the core of the event. “College Football,” in English, represents the American game, while “Brasil,” spelled with an “s,” reflects the native Portuguese spelling. Together, the words highlight the event’s purpose: celebrating competition, connection, and community through sport.
McMurray Family Director of Athletics at NC State, Boo Corrigan, stated, “We’re excited about the opportunity to play a game in a beautiful, world-renowned city like Rio de Janeiro and to bring American football to another continent. It’s definitely a unique situation to play a road game versus Virginia in Brazil, but it should be an unforgettable experience.”
The game will be televised nationally on an ESPN network, with additional streaming options under discussion.
“This will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for our team and program and will be something our guys will remember for their entire lives,” said Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren. “We are looking forward to experiencing the culture of Brazil while also providing the fans in Rio an exciting football game against a great opponent.”
“To have NC State and Virginia open our conference schedule on an international stage in Rio de Janeiro speaks to the vision, innovation, and collaboration of our league,” stated Commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference, Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “This is an extraordinary moment for the ACC and for college football. We appreciate College Football Brasil for this incredible opportunity to celebrate our student-athletes and highlight the global appeal of the ACC, our schools, and the sport of football. We’re proud of both institutions for leading the way in this historic event and our partners at ESPN, who will broadcast this premier event.”
NC State’s 2026 football schedule
Aug. 29: vs. Virginia (Rio de Janeiro)*
Sept. 12: vs. Richmond
Sept. 19: at Vanderbilt
Sept. 26: vs. App State
ACC home opponents: Cal, Duke, Louisville and Wake Forest
ACC road opponents: Florida State, North Carolina, Stanford, Virginia*, Virginia Tech