Duke football to play two marquee matchups on Friday nights in 2026
Duke will battle Virginia and Clemson on Friday nights during the 2026 college football season.
Duke football fans will want to move their schedule around, as the Blue Devils will play two Friday night games this upcoming season, both of which are marquee matchups. On Friday, the ACC announced that Manny Diaz’s squad’s game against Virginia, a rematch of the 2025 ACC Championship Game, will be played on Friday, October 23, in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers and Blue Devils played twice last season, with Virginia winning the first game in Durham, 34-17, while Duke got revenge in the title game, prevailing 27-20 in overtime.
On Friday, November 20, Dabo Swinney and his Clemson Tigers will come to Wallace-Wade Stadium. The Tigers had an unusual down season last year, finishing 7-6 (4-4 in ACC play) and losing to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl. Duke opens the season with a visit from Tulane on September 5, who defeated the Blue Devils 34-27 last season, before traveling to Illinois.
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Duke football to play two marquee matchups on Friday nights in 2026