We survived the five-day feast that was Week 1 of the North Carolina college football season. Now it’s time to do it all over again. Week two brings 24 games involving NC teams, including Thursday’s D3 opener between North Carolina Wesleyan and Averett.
Intriguing storylines exist at every level this week — from Duke’s showdown with No. 11 Illinois, to Charlotte hosting Bill Belichick and UNC, to D2 classics like Fayetteville State vs. UNC Pembroke, to the Gate City Soup Bowl rivalry between D3 neighbors Greensboro and Guilford.
This Game Day Central hub pulls it all together. Below you’ll find spotlight games, key matchups to keep an eye on and the full schedule for every FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NJCAA team in the Old North State. Check back throughout the weekend for updates, recaps and links to all of our coverage.
👉 Looking for scores of your favorite North Carolina teams? Don’t miss our Week 2 NC college football scoreboard for updated results all weekend.
🏈 NC FBS Game Day
Spotlight Game: No. 11 Illinois (1-0) at Duke (1-0) — Saturday, Noon (ESPN)
Two schools better known for basketball have been climbing the football ranks in recent years, and now they collide in Durham. Illinois enters as a 2.5-point favorite behind a rugged defense, while Duke looks to prove it belongs on the national stage. The Blue Devils can’t afford another sluggish start like last week’s three-quarter grind with Elon — but a win here would be a major feather for both the program and the ACC.
Keep Tabs On: North Carolina (0-1) at Charlotte (0-1) — Saturday, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
How well can Bill Belichick steer a new-look Tar Heels roster through the turbulence of an embarrassing season opener? Charlotte, eager to make amends for its subpar performance last week against App State, looms as a prickly foe in a sold-out Jerry Richardson Stadium.
Upset Alert? Western Carolina (0-1) at Wake Forest (1-0) – 2 p.m. (ACCNX)
Can the Deacs’ slow the Catamounts’ high-octane offense.
Upset Alert, Part II? Virginia (1-0) at NC State (1-0) – Noon (ESPN2)
Somehow this is not an ACC game, but Wahoos have been trendy pick to take down the Pack.
- Also in Action:
Lindenwood (0-1) at Appalachian State (1-0) – 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+) - Campbell (0-1) at East Carolina (0-1) – 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
🎯 NC FCS Game Day
Spotlight Game: Elon (0-1) vs. Davidson (0-1) — Saturday, 6 p.m. (FloFootball)
The lone FCS vs. FCS matchup in North Carolina pits two programs with different vibes coming out of week one. Elon showed flashes in last week’s opener at Duke, battling to a 10-10 halftime tie before fading late. Redshirt freshman QB Landen Clark impressed with both his arm and legs, while RB TJ Thomas Jr. returned to form with explosive plays.
Davidson, meanwhile, looks to regroup under first-year coach Saj Thakkar after a rough start against Georgetown (51-14 loss). The Wildcats lean on veteran RBs Mari Adams and Mason Sheron in hopes of snapping Elon’s three-game series streak.
Also in Action (FCS vs. FBS “money games”):
- Western Carolina (0-1) at Wake Forest (1-0) — 2 p.m. (ACCNX)
- Gardner-Webb (1-0) at Georgia Tech (1-0) — 3:30 p.m. (ACCNX)
- Campbell (0-1) at East Carolina (0-1) — 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
- North Carolina Central (1-1) at Old Dominion (0-1) — 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
- North Carolina A&T (0-1) at UCF (1-0) — 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
👉 Dive deeper with our full Week 2 FCS vs. FBS preview, breaking down all five matchups involving North Carolina teams.
🐂 NC D2 Game Day
Spotlight Game: Valdosta State (1-0) at Johnson C. Smith (1-0) — Saturday, Noon (CIAA-SN)
A powerhouse program with multiple national titles visits an upstart HBCU looking to make waves. Johnson C. Smith opened the season in style, routing Morehouse in a showcase game at Harvard behind new QB Kelvin Durham (270 yards, 3 TDs).
The Golden Bulls’ defense was just as sharp, allowing only 53 rushing yards. Valdosta State, last year’s D2 national runner-up, enters with a new coach (Graham Craig) and plenty of fresh faces after beating Clark Atlanta 31–18 in Week 1. This would be a huge statement for JCSU to prevail in this one.
Two Rivers Classic: Fayetteville State (0-1) at UNC Pembroke (0-1) — Saturday, 6 p.m. (CCDN)
A growing regional rivalry renews with both teams desperate for a win. FSU’s defense held tough in a 10-0 loss to Benedict, while UNCP battled but fell 30-21 at Wingate. UNCP leads the series 9-2 and is undefeated at home (5-0), but Fayetteville State has current bragging rights after pulling off a 35–31 thriller last year. Expect another tight one under the lights in Pembroke.
Gameday Rewind: The last time we battled at the Two Rivers Classic, 9/7/2024 ⏪🏆#fsubroncos | #broncopride pic.twitter.com/WWJKvJBqHa
— Fayetteville State Football (@Fsubroncos_fb) September 5, 2025
SAC Openers:
- Catawba (1-0) at Emory & Henry (1-0) — 1 p.m. (FloCollege)
- Lenoir-Rhyne (0-1) at Tusculum (1-0) — 6 p.m. (FloCollege)
- Winston-Salem State (0-1) at Mars Hill (0-0) — 6:30 p.m. (FloCollege)
Also in Action:
- Barton (0-1) at West Virginia State (0-1) — Noon (MEC-TV)
- West Alabama (1-0) at Chowan (1-0) — 1 p.m. (CCDN)
- Elizabeth City State (0-1) at Hampton (0-1) — 6 p.m. (FloCollege)
- Livingstone (0-1) at Allen (0-1) — 6 p.m.
🎓 NC D3 Game Day
Spotlight Game: Greensboro (0-0) at Guilford (0-0) — Saturday, 7 p.m. (FloCollege)
Separated by just six miles, Greensboro and Guilford square off in one of the state’s most unique rivalries — the Soup Bowl. Since 1998, the schools have paired football bragging rights with a canned food drive that benefits local charities.
The winner takes home the Gate City Soup Bowl Trophy, which Guilford has owned for eight straight years, including a 14-0 win last season. Greensboro still leads the rivalry’s early history, but hasn’t claimed the trophy since 2012. Admission is $15 or four canned food items, with kids 12 and under admitted free.
Also in Action:
- Kentucky Christian (0-0) at Brevard (0-0) — 1 p.m. (YouTube | BrevardCollegeTornados)
- Methodist (0-0) at Shenandoah (0-0) — 1 p.m. (FloCollege)
🌀 NC JUCO Game Day
Spotlight Game: Louisburg (0-1) at Presbyterian JV (0-0) — Sunday, 3 p.m.
North Carolina’s lone junior college program hits the road for South Carolina again looking to rebound from a tough 41–36 setback against Central Georgia Tech in Week 1. The Hurricanes are once again aiming to prove why they remain one of the nation’s most consistent NJCAA programs.
