No. 16 Virginia defied expectations all year to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game in coach Tony Elliott's fourth season.

In September, ACC athletic directors voted to move the league to a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026. As a result, the 2026 game between NC State and Virginia was converted from a non-conference contest into an official ACC conference game, ensuring the matchup counts toward league standings.

As Cal thwarted SMU’s late comeback and Duke took down Wake Forest, the 7-5 Blue Devils made the ACC title game against Virginia. Duke is just a three-point underdog to the Cavaliers and +115 to win the game outright. A Blue Devils win wouldn’t be all that surprising to oddsmakers.

N.C. State and Virginia will open next season in Brazil, becoming the first college football game played in South America.

Former West Virginia head football coach Neal Brown is set to make his return to the FBS as he takes over a new program following a year of coaching with Steve Sarkisian at Texas

Six of the nine Football Bowl Subdivision conference championship games will be rematches of regular-season meetings.