No. 14 Virginia seeks eighth straight win against NC State

The Cavaliers look to extend their longest winning streak since their 2018-19 national championship season.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 6:35am

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No. 14 Virginia (24-3, 12-2 ACC) hosts NC State (19-8, 10-4 ACC) on Tuesday night, with the Cavaliers seeking their eighth consecutive victory. Virginia is one game behind Duke for the top spot in the ACC standings and is 13-1 at home this season. The Wolfpack are coming off a big rivalry win over No. 16 North Carolina and are tied for third in the conference. In the teams' first meeting on Jan. 3, Virginia cruised to a 76-61 victory in Raleigh.

Why it matters

This game has significant implications for the ACC standings, with both teams in contention for one of the four double-byes that would automatically advance them to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Virginia is looking to continue its strong season and maintain its position near the top of the league, while NC State is aiming to build on its recent success and solidify its tournament resume.

The details

Virginia has won eight straight games, matching its best run since the 2018-19 national championship season. The Cavaliers rallied from an 11-point first-half deficit to beat Miami 86-83 in their last game, with Chance Mallory hitting three free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory. NC State is coming off an 82-58 rout of rival North Carolina, limiting the Tar Heels to just 31.7% shooting, including 15.2% from 3-point range.

  • The game will be played on Tuesday, February 23, 2026 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
  • Virginia's eight-game winning streak dates back to early February 2026.

The players

Chance Mallory

A Virginia player who hit three free throws in the final seconds to secure the Cavaliers' win over Miami.

Thijs De Ridder

Virginia's leading scorer (15.9 ppg) and rebounder (6.4 rpg).

Quadir Copeland

NC State's leading scorer (14.0 ppg) in the team's first meeting with Virginia.

Will Wade

The head coach of the NC State Wolfpack.

Ryan Odom

The head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers.

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What they’re saying

“The key for us was, in the second half, digging in more. They are a very well-coached team. They are an attacking and downhill team. They offensive rebound like we do, and they get to the free-throw line. It was just a matter of whether we were going to be able to stand up to that in the second half.”

— Ryan Odom, Virginia Cavaliers Head Coach

“We've got to close strong. I talked to our guys this week about sprinting through the finish line. We don't want to just kind of putter across the finish line. We want to sprint through the finish line. And I thought tonight was a good step.”

— Will Wade, NC State Wolfpack Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a step closer to securing one of the four double-byes for the ACC Tournament, which would automatically advance them to the quarterfinals.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the top teams in the ACC promises to be an exciting and high-stakes affair, with both squads looking to bolster their tournament resumes and position themselves for a deep run in the conference tournament.