North Carolina and TCU to open 2026 college football season in Ireland
The first game of Bill Belichick's second season at North Carolina will come in Ireland.
North Carolina and TCU announced Tuesday that they would open the 2026 season against each other in Ireland. It's the second game of a series between the two schools that begins on Labor Day when the Tar Heels host the Horned Frogs on Sept. 1.
'We're grateful to be selected to participate in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic,' Belichick said in a statement. 'It's a tremendous opportunity for our program and we're excited to represent the university and our fans on an international stage.'
The 2026 matchup between the teams will take place on Saturday, Aug. 29.
It will be the 11th college football game in Ireland and the fifth straight season opener in the country. After a six-year break, Aviva Stadium hosted Northwestern's win over Nebraska in 2022. Notre Dame beat Navy 42-3 in 2023 and Georgia Tech upset Florida State in 2024. That game was a sign of things to come in a miserable season for the Seminoles.
The 2025 Ireland game features Big 12 rivals Iowa State and Kansas State. After UNC and TCU play each other in 2026, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin will match up in 2027.
It's the first trip to Ireland for both TCU and North Carolina. UNC is the fifth ACC school to play in Ireland, though Pitt was not a member of the ACC when it beat Rutgers in December of 1989.
'We will take great pride in representing TCU internationally,' TCU coach Sonny Dykes said in a statement. 'With a good number of our players not having traveled overseas, I am most happy for them to have this opportunity and very much appreciate Aer Lingus and Irish American Events making it possible for them as well as all of TCU to share in this experience.'
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