The 2025 ACC Football Championship Game delivers a rematch with redemption on the line, as the unranked Duke Blue Devils (7-5, 6-2 ACC) seek to upend the No. 18 Virginia Cavaliers (10-2, 7-1 ACC) at Bank of America Stadium. Virginia clinched the Coastal Division with a dominant 27-7 win over Virginia Tech, marking their first ACC title game appearance since 2019 and positioning them for a potential College Football Playoff at-large berth. Duke, under Manny Diaz, snuck into the matchup via tiebreakers over Miami, Pitt, SMU, and Georgia Tech—despite a 3-3 finish in their last six—thanks to a high-octane offense led by transfer QB Darian Mensah. The Cavaliers dominated their regular-season meeting 34-17 on November 15, but Duke’s recent surge (49-32 over Wake Forest) and Virginia’s defensive injuries could make this a tighter affair. With the ACC’s automatic CFP bid at stake, Virginia enters as a modest favorite in a contest projected for offensive fireworks under the lights.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina (Capacity: 74,867; neutral-site host for ACC championships since 2010).
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast: ABC (with streaming on ESPN App, Fubo, and YouTube TV).
Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster or Vivid Seats (starting at $65); premium Gridiron Club options via theACC.com.
Weather Forecast
Cool December evening conditions are expected at kickoff in Charlotte, with temperatures around 37-40°F under cloudy skies and low humidity (around 60%). Light winds (2-5 mph from the north) won’t impact play significantly, but there’s a 25% chance of scattered showers—per AccuWeather models—potentially leading to a slick field that favors Virginia’s efficient ground game. No severe weather; Diaz noted Duke’s preparation for variable conditions after road tests in California and Connecticut.
Injury Report
Both teams enter with depth concerns, particularly Virginia’s backfield and secondary after late-season attrition. Duke’s receiving corps is thinned, impacting Mensah’s options. Updates from ACC availability reports (as of December 2) show limited practice for key pieces; no major changes expected.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury Details |
| Duke | Jaivon Solomon | WR | Questionable | Undisclosed; uncertain vs. Virginia. |
| Duke | Andrel Anthony | WR | Questionable | Undisclosed; missed recent snaps. |
| Duke | Brett Elliott | TE | Out | Undisclosed; no timetable. |
| Duke | L. Callahan | CB | Questionable | Undisclosed; limited this week. |
| Duke | N. Morris Jr. | LB | Questionable | Undisclosed; day-to-day. |
| Virginia | K. Robinson | LB | Out | Knee (torn ACL); season-ending. |
| Virginia | X. Brown | RB | Out | Knee; out for postseason. |
| Virginia | Noah Vaughn | RB | Questionable | Ankle; limited, hopeful return. |
| Virginia | Ben York | OL | Questionable | Undisclosed; missed Wake Forest. |
| Virginia | Jayden Thomas | WR | Questionable | Undisclosed; targeting availability. |
Duke’s O-line is stable; Virginia RB J’Mari Taylor (probable) carries the load.
Key Player Matchups
Virginia’s top-25 total offense (433.2 YPG) vs. Duke’s opportunistic secondary (1.6 turnovers forced/game) headlines this rematch, with QBs Mensah and Morris under pressure (combined 2.1 sacks/game allowed). Duke’s red-zone efficiency (88% TD rate) tests UVA’s 4th-ranked ACC scoring D (17.8 PPG allowed).
Duke QB Darian Mensah vs. Virginia DL Mitchell Melton: Mensah (3,450 pass yards, 28 TDs, 67.5% completion) ranks 2nd in ACC passing efficiency, torching defenses for 300+ yards in four wins. Melton (Ohio State transfer, 10 TFL, 5 sacks) leads UVA’s front (No. 18 nationally, 2.3 sacks/game), forcing 15% pressure—Mensah’s 2.3-sec release evaded in November (18/35, 51% completion), but Duke’s line yields just 1.9 sacks/game.
Virginia RB J’Mari Taylor vs. Duke LB Chandler Rivers: Taylor (1,200+ rush yards, 4.7 YPC, 12 TDs) powered 133 yards/2 TDs vs. Duke last month, fueling UVA’s No. 64 rush attack. Rivers (All-ACC, 98 tackles) anchors Duke’s stout front (141 rush YPG allowed, No. 41 nationally), but Taylor’s burst gashed them (5.5 YPC in losses)—expect 110+ if gaps open.
Duke WR Cooper Bargape vs. Virginia CB Dre Walker: Bargape (Harvard transfer, 950 rec yards, 8 TDs, 15.2 YPR) is Mensah’s deep threat (team-high 72.1 YAC/game). Walker (questionable undisclosed, 4 INTs) keys UVA’s ball-hawking secondary (11 picks), but Bargape’s YAC exploited zone for 100+ yards earlier—coverage lapses could yield chunk plays.
Virginia QB Chandler Morris vs. Duke DE Vincent Anthony Jr.: Morris (2,586 pass yards, 14 TDs, 65.9% completion) stabilized UVA post-injury (7.2 YPA), with mobility adding 4.2 YPC scrambles. Anthony (5 sacks) leads Duke’s pass rush (No. 35, 2.1 sacks/game), dropping QBs 12% efficiency under blitz—Morris’s quick decisions neutralize if O-line holds (1.3 sacks/game allowed).
Edge to Virginia’s balance in sims (56% win prob.), but Duke’s turnover creation (+0.7 margin) keeps it within one score.
Team Records and Season Overview
Virginia’s head-to-head win secured the title game over a crowded Coastal field; both finished strong, with UVA’s 7-1 ACC mark earning the No. 1 seed. Cavaliers rank top-20 in total defense (311.7 YPG allowed); Blue Devils top-20 in scoring offense (34.6 PPG) but middling on D (29.4 PPG allowed).
| Team | Overall Record | ACC Record | National Rank (AP) | Offensive PPG | Defensive PPG Allowed |
| Duke | 7-5 | 6-2 | Unranked | 34.6 | 29.4 |
| Virginia | 10-2 | 7-1 | No. 18 | 33.2 | 17.8 |
Duke: Diaz’s squad notched non-con Ws (Elon 52-0) but stumbled vs. top foes (0-3 vs. AP-ranked).Virginia: Elliott’s group rebounded from NC State opener L with seven straight wins (longest since 2007), ranking No. 64 in rush (188.7 YPG).
Recent Team Forms
Duke closes with two straight wins after a midseason skid, outscoring foes 81-57 while forcing 5 turnovers. Virginia has won four of five, averaging 30.8 PPG but dipping offensively (23 PPG last three) amid injuries.
Duke Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov 29 | Wake Forest | W 49-32 | Mensah: 316 pass yds, 2 TDs |
| Nov 22 | at UNC | W 32-25 | Bargape: 100+ rec yds |
| Nov 15 | Virginia | L 17-34 | Defense: 2 INTs, but 514 total yds allowed |
| Nov 8 | at UConn | L 34-37 | Mensah: 222 pass yds |
| Nov 1 | at Clemson | W 46-45 | Rushing: 180 yds, late FG win |
Virginia Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov 29 | Virginia Tech | W 27-7 | Defense: Shutout, 2 INTs |
| Nov 22 | Wake Forest | L 24-31 | Morris: 250 pass yds |
| Nov 15 | at Duke | W 34-17 | Taylor: 133 rush yds, 2 TDs |
| Nov 8 | NC State | W 28-21 | Passing: 220 yds; Rivers: 12 tackles |
| Nov 1 | at California | W 35-14 | Ground: 200+ yds |
Series History
Virginia leads 42-34 all-time, with a 9-1 streak since 2015 (outscoring Duke 312-178, avg. margin 13.4). Recent games average 51 points, all decided by 17 or less. No prior ACC title meetings; UVA’s home dominance (17-12) persists.
| Date | Location | Result (Duke Score – UVA Score) | Notes |
| Nov 15, 2025 | Durham, NC | L 17-34 | UVA rolls with 514 total yds |
| Nov 18, 2023 | Charlottesville, VA | L 27-30 | Narrow UVA comeback |
| Oct 1, 2022 | Durham, NC | W 38-17 | Duke’s last win |
| Nov 23, 2019 | Charlottesville, VA | L 17-34 | UVA controls trenches |
| Nov 21, 2015 | Durham, NC | L 13-20 | End of Duke’s mini-streak |
Duke’s revamped O (up 15% efficiency) eyes upset, but history favors the Cavaliers.
Betting Trends
Duke: 4-5-0 ATS (44.4%), 3-2 ATS as dogs; 5-4 O/U, overs in 4 of 6 road/neutral. Public 48% on Duke +3.5.
Virginia: 7-5 ATS (58.3%), 4-2 ATS as favorites; 6-6 O/U, unders in 5 of 7 vs. top-20 offenses. Public 55% on UVA ML.
Head-to-Head: UVA 9-1 SU last 10, 6-4 ATS; over 6-4 last 10 (avg. 51 points).
Advanced: Virginia +1.3 turnover margin (public on defense); models project 58.2 expected points, 56% UVA cover.
Game Odds
Duke Blue Devils 57.5
Virginia Cavaliers – 3.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 5, 2025
