Photo: Dylan Ribott
By Daniel Susann (@dsus_sus)
A decent opening day slate of ACC women’s soccer awaits fans who pay for a premium TV package, preceding a crown jewel on the Big Ten Network at 9 p.m. Eastern between No. 3 Duke and USC.
Six of the 12 opening day matches can be found through various TV networks: ACCNX, SECN+, ESPN+ and BTN. Three of those six matches are duels between Power Four squads.
Siena @ Boston College | 4 p.m. ACCNX
For the first college soccer match of 2026, the season opens as Boston College hosts Siena with an early 4 p.m. start, broadcast on ACCNX. Boston College looks to bounce back after a down year in 2025 where the Eagles won a single conference game. But before ACC play, Boston College still handled business with a 4-1-2 record. Meanwhile, Siena played just one game versus a Power Four opponent in 2025, falling 5-0 to No. 1 North Carolina.
Northwestern @ No. 11 Virginia 7 p.m. ACCNX
One of six ACC squads inside the top 11 in the preseason United Soccer Coaches poll, Virginia looks to get back to the College Cup for the first time since 2020. But first, the Hoos must handle their decently difficult nonconference slate where they take on No. 14 Georgetown, No. 24 Tennessee, Yale and JMU — after opening the season versus Northwestern.
Northwestern could present a tough test coming off of a 9-4-8 season in 2025. The Wildcats were 1-3-3 versus ranked opponents last fall, knocking off No. 4 TCU 1-0 in early September.
No. 25 Clemson @ Auburn 7 p.m. SECN+
Rounding out the eight ACC teams in the top 25, Clemson heads to Auburn, Alabama as Auburn’s only Power Four nonconference opponent. This match could have big implications for strengthening the SEC’s resume as Clemson has been a steady program in recent years, reaching a College Cup in 2023. Auburn was at the bottom of the SEC in 2026, but still could present a challenge as Clemson looks ahead to Sunday as well, facing No. 17 Ohio State at home.
No. 3 Duke @ USC 9 p.m. BTN
No. 3 Duke heads to Southern California, taking on the Trojans for an opening day test. The Trojans sit outside the top 25, but did receive three votes in the United College Soccer preseason poll. The 2024 Big Ten regular season champion Trojans could provide a decent test for the Blue Devils, who are coming off of a College Cup berth in 2025.
Expect Mia Minestrella to make an impact for the Blue Devils in the first game of her senior season after she scored 18 goals and earned Second Team All-American honors last fall.
Other Power Four matchups (No broadcast):
Nebraska @ Louisville 7:30 p.m.
No. 16 LSU @ No. 18 Wake Forest 8 p.m.
SMU @ No. 5 Vanderbilt 8 p.m. 9 p.m.
Non-Power Four matchups (broadcast):
Miami @ Jacksonville 7 p.m. – ESPN+
Samford @ No. 2 Notre Dame 7 p.m. – ACCNX
Non-Power Four matchups (no broadcast):
NC State @ James Madison 7 p.m.
Youngstown State @ Pitt 7 p.m.
Cal Baptist @ California 10 p.m.
