North Carolina defeated Wake Forest 87-84 in a close game marked by free throw struggles and key defensive plays, extending their home winning streak to 11 games and marking their 500th win at the Smith Center. The game featured strong performances from Veesaar and Wilson, with Young stepping up off the bench, and highlighted Wake's three-point shooting prowess. UNC now prepares for a challenging road schedule after this victory.
No. 23 Virginia (13-2) will host Stanford (13-3) in an ACC game at John Paul Jones Arena on January 10, with the game sold out. Virginia, led by new head coach Ryan Odom, aims to extend its 10-game home winning streak. The Cavaliers are strong offensively, averaging 86.1 points, and excel in rebounding and three-point shooting. Stanford, with a 1-8 all-time record against Virginia, seeks to improve after last year's loss. The game will be broadcast on The CW and Virginia Sports Radio Network.
The No. 12 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team is set to play their first ACC road game of the season against SMU on January 3, 2026, with UNC leading the series 3-1 all-time against SMU. The team, currently 13-1, is on a strong start and features standout freshmen Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, who are making significant impacts. The game will be broadcast on The CW, and UNC aims to continue their impressive defensive and offensive performances this season.
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Virginia Tech's 2026 football opponents, with a nine-game conference schedule including four home games against Georgia Tech, Pitt, Stanford, and Virginia, and five away games at Boston College, California, Clemson, Miami, and SMU, with full schedule details to be released later.
The ACC announced that in 2026, 12 of its football teams will play a nine-game conference schedule, while five teams will have an eight-game schedule due to contractual and scheduling reasons. Starting in 2027, the conference plans to have all teams play a full nine-game schedule, with some teams scheduling additional non-conference games to meet the new policy.
Stanford football's 2026 schedule includes nine ACC games, with four home and five away, and updates to the Bill Walsh Legacy Game and a new nonconference game against Elon, as part of the ACC's shift to a nine-game conference schedule.
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its 2026 football schedule, transitioning to a nine-game conference format with all 17 teams, including a mix of nine and eight ACC games, and a minimum of 10 Power Four opponents annually, aligning with other Power Four conferences and enhancing competitive balance.
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its 2026 football opponents, transitioning to a nine-game conference schedule for most teams, with a mix of eight and nine-game schedules to balance competitive equity and contractual obligations, marking a significant shift in league scheduling and alignment.
The ACC faces a bleak outlook for the College Football Playoff, with only a slim chance of multiple teams qualifying, heavily dependent on Duke and Virginia's outcomes, amid mediocre team performances and complex tiebreakers, risking the conference's representation in the postseason.
The latest CFP rankings reveal the ACC's potential exclusion from the playoff, Texas Tech's strong position with a win over Texas A&M, and Texas's slim chances of making the playoff, with conference championship week shaping the final bids.
The CFP committee ranked Miami at No. 15 despite two losses, citing their talent and defensive strength but noting inconsistency on offense. Miami's playoff chances depend on ACC results and remaining games, with limited opportunities for resume boosts.
Miami has moved up to No. 15 in the College Football Playoff rankings and has a real, though challenging, chance to make the playoff, thanks to key wins, favorable comparisons, and the potential for chaos among other contenders. However, their history of stumbling in crucial games remains a concern.
The Miami Hurricanes are ranked No. 15 in the second CFP ranking of the season, making them the highest-ranked ACC team and on the bubble for a playoff spot, contingent on winning their remaining games. Their ranking improved from No. 18, and they are currently considered a potential playoff team if they secure their conference and regular-season wins.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi downplays the significance of the Notre Dame game, emphasizing the importance of winning the next two conference games to maintain ACC title hopes, regardless of the Notre Dame result.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi dismisses the 'must-win' narrative for the upcoming game against Notre Dame, emphasizing the importance of winning ACC games in the final stretch. Despite recent heavy losses to Notre Dame, Narduzzi downplays the significance of the game, focusing instead on securing ACC victories to improve their CFP chances. The Panthers are in a competitive ACC race with five teams having only one loss, making their upcoming games crucial for postseason hopes.
