Sure, we're only two games (and three weeks) into the 2026 season, but hey, it's never too early to look ahead to 2027!
On Wednesday, the Atlantic Coast Conference revealed the football matchups for next year's slate of conference games. Each program will play 9 ACC contests with the exception of this week's opponent, Clemson, who will play eight.
Which ACC teams will Bill Belichick and UNC compete against in 2027?
For the first time under this new scheduling model, one that was adopted due to the addition of three teams into the conference (Cal, SMU and Stanford), North Carolina's schedule will feature games against 9 ACC foes.
In total, seven games will be played at Kenan Stadium next season, four of which will be against conference opponents.
2027 ACC opponents have been announced 🏈 pic.twitter.com/IEbxZZCGQH
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 16, 2026
In 2027, North Carolina will host Duke, Florida State, Virginia and Virginia Tech, while traveling to Louisville, NC State, Stanford, Syracuse and Wake Forest in ACC action.
North Carolina's Home ACC Opponents
Duke, Florida State, Virginia, Virginia Tech
North Carolina's Road ACC Opponents
Louisville, NC State, Stanford, Syracuse, Wake Forest
North Carolina's Non-Conference Opponents (all home games)
North Alabama, UCF, UConn
Some old foes return to the schedule for UNC, as they'll take on Virginia Tech for the first time since 2022 and Florida State for the first time since 2024.
What's good about the schedule is that two of the five scheduled road games are against in-state opponents. Trips to NC State and Wake Forest are close enough to home where they feel like home games, which is beneficial when it comes to travel and planning for having to be on the road.
Sure, the trip to Stanford across country stinks, but fortunately, the schedule makes up for it with some closer home games.
One important thing to note is that it appears the Tar Heels' pre-scheduled home-and-home series with Purdue won't be starting in 2027 as planned. Based on the school's official press release discussing next year's schedule, the Boilermakers were not listed among the non-conference foes, which indicates that the series is either going to be canceled or moved back to another year.
We'll just have to wait and find out on that one!
The dates for each contest will be released at the start of the new calendar year, but for now, at least we know who will be on the schedule for the UNC football program. Now, we can all go back to focusing on Clemson, just as Bill Belichick and the current Tar Heels are doing in preparation for Saturday's road contest against the Tigers.
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