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The NC State vs. Virginia football game, scheduled to take place in Brazil as the first college football game played in South America, is being moved to the Cavaliers’ home field after organizers determined the game could not be played in Rio de Janeiro.
Wednesday’s announcement came less than three months before the Wolfpack and Cavaliers opened the season in Rio.
The Atlantic Coast Conference said in a press release that the change comes after “extensive review with operating partners and international stakeholders,” with event organizer Athlete Advantage recently informing the league and schools that the event could not proceed as planned in Brazil.
Running back Jayden Scott carries the ball over the middle during the NC State Wolfpack and Virginia game on September 6, 2025 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The game was scheduled to take place on August 29, in Week 0 of the college football schedule. The league and schools are working with television partner ESPN and the NCAA to keep the game on schedule.
The teams had initially agreed to a home-and-home non-conference series that would not count in the ACC standings since the games were added outside of the league’s schedule model. Longtime league members from neighboring states don’t meet as often due to years of expansion amid waves of national conference realignment.
NC State won last year’s first game in this plan at home. The Rio game was scheduled to replace Virginia’s home game in Charlottesville, but as part of the league’s slate as the ACC moves to a nine-game schedule. From now on, it will take place at Scott Stadium in a more traditional context.
Supporters who purchased tickets or travel packages for the event through the official College Football Brasil website will receive a refund.
Associated Press reporting.
