Duke vs. Virginia live score, updates, highlights from 2025 ACC championship game

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Though the ACC Championship might not be the flashiest game of the weekend, it might have the biggest implications. When Virginia and Duke face off at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Saturday night, the two will be playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

For the No. 17 Virginia Cavaliers (10-2), a win means they are guaranteed a spot in the expanded 12-team playoff as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions; the Cavaliers will probably slot in at No. 11 in the bracket on Sunday with a win. However, for the unranked Duke Blue Devils (7-5), a win would create chaos and could potentially lead to the ACC being shut out of the College Football Playoff entirely.

The Cavaliers’ dramatic rise to a 10-win season and the ACC Championship game is one of the biggest surprise stories in college football, especially considering they were projected to finish dead last in the conference preseason media poll. Head Coach Tony Elliott engineered the turnaround primarily by aggressively utilizing the transfer portal, bringing in 31 new players, including star quarterback Chandler Morris from North Texas and running back J'Mari Taylor from NC Central, who now spearheads the ACC's third-best rushing attack. The two teams met in early November, with Virginia winning 34-17.

With the CFP granting automatic bids to the five highest-ranked conference champions, a Duke win would likely drop the ACC champion below contenders from the American and Sun Belt conferences, leaving the conference to fight for a difficult at-large bid. Duke coach Manny Diaz has argued emphatically that an ACC Champion, regardless of record, deserves a place in the playoff, pointing to his team's challenging schedule and the controversial five-way tiebreaker that landed them in Charlotte over 10-win Miami. Virginia can put all of this to bed with a win.

This game is a win-and-in for Virginia, but a possible win-and-out disaster scenario for the entire Atlantic Coast Conference if Duke prevails. Will it be the Hoos capping off a storybook season by punching a ticket to the Playoff, or will Duke make its case and set up a potential doomsday for the ACC?

STREAM: Watch 2025 ACC championship live with Fubo (free trial)

Duke vs. Virginia football score

NCAAF HQ: Live NCAAF scores | Updated CFP rankings | Full NCAAF schedule

Duke vs. Virginia live updates, highlights from 2025 ACC championship

This section will be updated closer to kickoff.

MORE DUKE-VIRGINIA NEWS:

• Why isn't Miami in ACC title game?
• Duke's CFP chaos scenarios, explained
• How Virginia can clinch a 2025 playoff spot
• Final college football bowl projections

Where to watch 2025 ACC championship game

Duke vs. Virginia start time

• Date:  Dec. 6
• Time:  8 p.m. ET

The ACC Championship Game is played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. It will be the 15th time the ACC Championship Game has been played in Charlotte.

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What channel is Duke vs. Virginia on today? 

• TV Channel:  ABC
• Streaming: ESPN App, Fubo

The ACC championship will air on ABC on Saturday night. Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Greg McElroy (color) will call the action, with Molly McGrath and Taylor McGregor on the sidelines.

Viewers looking to stream the game can on the ESPN App or Fubo, which offers new subscribers a free trial.

College football schedule for conference championship week

Friday, Dec. 5

Saturday, Dec. 6

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