2026 ACC Football Kickoff

Hilton Charlotte Uptown

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July 15–17, 2026

Charlotte opens the ACC's 74th season of football. All 17 head coaches and more than 50 student-athletes meet the national media for three days of press conferences, interviews, and season previews — with live ACC Network coverage every morning at 9 a.m. ET.

Official ACC Announcement

2026 TV Schedule

About the Event

What is ACC Football Kickoff?

Each summer, ACC Football Kickoff turns Charlotte into the center of the college football conversation. Coaches and student-athletes from every league program address the media ahead of the new season — previewing rosters, expectations, and storylines that will shape the fall.

In 2026, the event runs July 15–17 at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown. The ACC has confirmed all 17 head coaches and 50+ student-athletes as attendees. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips will also address the national media during the three-day event.

View attendees

See Full Attendee List

Kickoff Schedule by Day

Teams appear in groups across three days. Each session includes a head coach press conference and student-athlete interviews with national and local media.

Wednesday, July 15

Florida State — Head Coach Mike Norvell
Miami — Head Coach Mario Cristobal
NC State — Head Coach Dave Doeren
Stanford — Head Coach Tavita Pritchard
Virginia — Head Coach Tony Elliott

Thursday, July 16

Boston College — Head Coach Bill O'Brien
Clemson — Head Coach Dabo Swinney
Georgia Tech — Head Coach Brent Key
Louisville — Head Coach Jeff Brohm
Syracuse — Head Coach Fran Brown
Virginia Tech — Head Coach James Franklin

Friday, July 17

California — Head Coach Tosh Lupoi
Duke — Head Coach Manny Diaz
North Carolina — Head Coach Bill Belichick
Pitt — Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
SMU — Head Coach Rhett Lashlee
Wake Forest — Head Coach Jake Dickert

Full roster

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Coaches & student-athletes

How to Watch

Live on ACC Network

ACC Network provides live coverage each day beginning at 9 a.m. ET from the Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Programming airs across ACC Network (ACCN), ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), and select sessions on ESPN platforms.

You do not need to be in Charlotte to follow along — tune in on your cable or streaming provider's ACC Network channel, or stream through the ESPN app where available.

2026 Season on TV

Early TV Designations Announced

Alongside Kickoff week, the ACC and its television partners announced kickoff times and network designations for more than 40 games in weeks 0–5 — including a record 15 Friday night games during the 2026 season.

Notable early-season games

Week 0 (Aug 29): North Carolina vs. TCU — Dublin, Noon ET, ESPN
Week 1 (Sep 5): Clemson at LSU — 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Week 3 (Sep 19): Florida State at Alabama — 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Championship (Dec 5): ACC Football Championship — Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, Noon ET, ABC

Additional game times will be announced on a 12-day or six-day selection process throughout the season on theACC.com.

TV schedule

View Full TV Schedule

Event Gallery

Photos from ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte and the 2026 season ahead.