Bill Belichick, UNC to Open 2026 CFB Schedule vs. TCU in Ireland

Legendary head coach Bill Belichick's second season at UNC will kick off in a big way.

Per the Associated Press, UNC and TCU will open the 2026 college football season in Ireland with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Aug. 29, 2026.

The Tar Heels and Horned Frogs will open the 2025 season against one another as well, marking Belichick's official debut as a college football head coach. The game will be played on Labor Day and will be the only college or NFL game on the schedule that Monday.

Next year's Euro-trip will be the first game abroad for both programs.

"It's a tremendous opportunity for our program, and we're excited to represent the university and our fans on an international stage," Belichick said.

TCU and UNC were initially expected to open the 2026 campaign on Sept. 5 in Forth Worth, Texas, following the Horned Frogs' trip to Chapel Hill this year. TCU will be designated as the home team when it meets the Tar Heels in Ireland.

"This is more than just a football game. It's an opportunity to advance TCU's brand globally while having our student-athletes experience a unique educational opportunity and memory of a lifetime," TCU athletic director Mike Buddie said.

Iowa State and Kansas State will meet in this year's Aer Lingus Classic in Ireland on Aug. 23. In last year's matchup, Georgia Tech was victorious over Florida State.