UNC to open 2026 football season across the pond
The 2025 UNC football season can't come soon enough, with the Bill Belichick era officially kicking off Monday, Sept. 1 as TCU comes to Kenan Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The Horned Frogs, who finished 2024 with a 9-4 record and domination of Louisiana in the New Mexico Bowl, are a great, early-season test to see how legitimate Belichick's Tar Heels are. We aren't expecting North Carolina to be a College Football Playoff contender in Year One, but an improvement from Mack Brown's teams.
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UNC will also play TCU in 2026 – but instead of Forth Worth, the Tar Heels and Horned Frogs are heading across the pond.
On Tuesday, North Carolina announced it will face TCU in the 2026 Aer Lingus Classic. According to FBschedules.com's Kevin Kelley, this game will be played on August 29, 2026. The Horned Frogs were initially scheduled to host UNC on September 5.
2026 will mark the second time in three seasons an ACC team plays in Ireland, with 2024's edition featuring Georgia Tech upsetting then-No. 10 Florida State. The 2025 Aer Lingus classic features Iowa State and Kansas State, while the 2027 edition will showcase Pitt and Wisconsin.
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There's still plenty of uncertainty with the Tar Heels' 2025 roster, but they at least have their starting quarterback in South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez. North Carolina will also carry initial 2024 starter Max Johnson and incoming, 4-star freshman Bryce Baker in its QB room.
There's just over four months until UNC plays football – are you ready?
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC, TCU to open 2026 college football season in Ireland
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