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Chapel Hill Today
By the People, for the People
UNC Baseball Faces Tough ACC Schedule in 2026
Tar Heels look to bounce back from Super Regional loss with challenging slate of ranked opponents and rivalry games.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
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The preseason No. 11 North Carolina baseball team faces a daunting 2026 schedule filled with top ACC teams and tough nonconference opponents. The Tar Heels open the season at home against Indiana before hosting East Carolina and Virginia. UNC will also host Louisville and Georgia Tech, and travel to face Clemson, Duke, and NC State in key conference matchups. How the Tar Heels handle this demanding slate could determine their postseason fate.
Why it matters
UNC is looking to build on last year's Super Regional appearance and make a deeper run in the 2026 postseason. To do so, they'll need to navigate a schedule packed with ranked opponents and fierce in-state rivalries, which will test the team's mettle and provide valuable experience ahead of the ACC and NCAA tournaments.
The details
The Tar Heels open the season with a three-game series against Indiana, followed by a home-and-home with East Carolina. UNC then hosts Virginia, California, Louisville, and Georgia Tech - all ranked opponents. Key conference series include trips to Clemson and NC State, as well as home matchups with Duke. The Tar Heels will be challenged throughout the year, with their performance against this demanding slate likely shaping their postseason prospects.
- The season opens on February 13 with a three-game series against Indiana.
- UNC hosts East Carolina in a home-and-home series on February 20 and 22.
- The Tar Heels host Virginia in a three-game series beginning March 6.
- UNC hosts preseason No. 8 Louisville on March 20.
- The Tar Heels travel to face preseason No. 19 Clemson in a three-game series starting April 10.
The players
AJ Gracia
A First Team Preseason All-American outfielder for Virginia, Gracia hit 15 home runs and drove in 54 runs last season.
Alex Alicea
The Louisville shortstop ranked among D1 Baseball's top 10 shortstops nationally and is one of the Cardinals' key offensive contributors.
Aidan Knaak
Clemson's ace pitcher returns after the Tigers hosted an NCAA Regional for the third straight year.
Jacob Jarrell
Clemson's veteran catcher is another key returnee for the Tigers.
Drew Burress
Georgia Tech's center fielder is one of the nation's most productive hitters, making the series against UNC a tough home test for the Tar Heels.
What’s next
How the Tar Heels handle this demanding slate could play a major role in shaping their push for a deeper postseason run.
The takeaway
UNC's 2026 baseball schedule is filled with top ACC opponents and challenging nonconference foes, testing the team's mettle and providing valuable experience ahead of the postseason. The Tar Heels will need to navigate this gauntlet if they hope to make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament after last year's Super Regional exit.
