The Bill Belichick-led University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels will face the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs at Aviva Stadium on August 29th, 2026, as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. This will be the first international game for both programs.
“We’re grateful to be selected to participate in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic,” said Belichick. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for our program, and we’re excited to represent the university and our fans on an international stage.”
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic debuted in 2016 and has resulted in four NCAA Division I college football games being played at Aviva Stadium. Last season, the Boston College Eagles defeated the tenth-ranked Florida State Seminoles 24-21 in the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
“We will take great pride in representing TCU internationally,” said Horned Frogs head Coach Sonny Dykes. “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. It will be special to take the field in Dublin and for our fans to see us on this type of stage in Ireland. We have enjoyed watching past Aer Lingus College Football Classic games, and it’s a true honor for us to now play in it and kick off the 2026 college football season.”
The Tar Heels are going global. 🏈🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/XlqCQjuWLg
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) April 22, 2025
There have been nine Division I college football games played in Ireland, with three future matchups planned in 2025, 2026, and 2027. This year, the Iowa State Cyclones and the Kansas State Wildcats will go head-to-head at Aviva Stadium.
“We are extremely grateful for this opportunity presented to us by Aer Lingus to provide the young men in our football program an unrivaled educational, cultural, and athletic experience,” said Jamie Pollard, Iowa State’s Director of Athletics, in a press release. “Iowa State fans enjoy a tremendous reputation for following the Cyclones wherever they play, and we look forward to seeing them travel with us to The Emerald Isle for the 2025 season opener.”
In the meantime, UNC and TCU are scheduled to play each other this year at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. That game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT on September 1st, 2025.
