Football To Open 2026 Season Against TCU In Aer Lingus Classic

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Carolina football will kick off the 2026 season against TCU on Saturday, Aug. 29, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic held at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The game is set for noon (ET)/5 p.m. (Irish Time) and air live on ESPN.

FIRST AND TEN
• Carolina is in its 136th season of football (139th year) in 2026 and the Tar Heels enter the campaign with an all-time record of 755-584-54.
• UNC is making its first international trip in program history to compete in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, at Aviva Stadium.
• Saturday's game between the Tar Heels and the Horned Frogs will air live on ESPN with Mike Monaco (PxP), Jordan Rodgers (Analyst) and Dana Boyle (Sideline) on the call.
• The Tar Heels will open consecutive seasons against the same opponent (TCU) for the first time since 1984-85, when Carolina played Navy in its first game of the year both seasons.
• The Tar Heels are the fourth different ACC school to play in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, joining Boston College (2016), Florida State (2024), and Georgia Tech (2016 and 2024).
• Carolina returns a pair of All-ACC Selections from a season ago in defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude (second team) and wide receiver Jordan Shipp (honorable mention). Abou Jaoude ranked fifth nationally and led the ACC in sacks with 10.5 following the regular season.
• Bobby Petrino, one of the nation's top offensive minds, was named the offensive coordinator for the program in January, after spending the past two seasons at Arkansas as the offensive coordinator and interim head coach.
• Carolina Football will celebrate the 100th season of Kenan Stadium during the 2026 season with a series of special events, facility enhancements and fan experiences to honor 100 years of one of the most picturesque athletic venues in the country.
• UNC welcomes the nation's 12th-ranked recruiting class to the program for the 2026 season, featuring 40 signees, among the largest signing classes in the country.
• As the Tar Heels gear up for the trip to the Emerald Isle, 57 players will be traveling out of the country for the first time.

A WIN OVER TCU WOULD…
• Be Carolina's 756th all-time victory in program history.
• Be Carolina's first-ever season-opening win over a Big 12 Conference opponent.
• Give the Tar Heels their first victory over TCU since 1997.
• Help Carolina start 1-0 on the year for the fourth time in the last five seasons and the 14th time since 2000.
• Give Belichick his fourth win in an international game, following three during his time with the Patriots in London (twice) and Mexico City.

THE OPPONENT
• TCU is led by fifth-year head coach of the Horned Frogs, Sonny Dykes.  The Horned Frogs have posted back-to-back nine-win seasons, with two-straight bowl victories.
• The Horned Frogs also welcome a new offensive coordinator, as Gordon Sammis takes over following two seasons at UConn.
• Transfer quarterback Jaden Craig is the presumed starter under center, replacing veteran quarterback Josh Hoover. A transfer from Harvard, Craig set single-season records for completions (208), touchdown passes (25) and passing yards (2,869) in 2025 for the Crimson.
• Last year, TCU ranked fourth nationally in fewest explosive run percentage at 3.0 percent.

HEADING HOME
• It's not often an international student-athlete has the opportunity to begin his career in his home country, but UNC freshman Adam McCann-Gibbs will have that unique opportunity this weekend.
• A native of Glen, Northern Ireland, McCann-Gibbs has been giving the players a crash course on Ireland culture.
• McCann-Gibbs will also celebrate his birthday on Saturday, Aug. 29.

BEEN HERE BEFORE
• Redshirt sophomore linebacker Timir Hickman-Collins has unique insight on the trip to Dublin and the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, as he was a member of the 2024 Florida State team that played Georgia Tech in the game.
• The Fort Mill, South Carolina, native redshirted the 2024 campaign, but traveled with the Seminoles to Ireland for the season opener.
• Last season, Hickman-Collins appeared in nine games for the Tar Heels and earned a significant role on UNC's special teams' units.

FIRST OF (HOPEFULLY) MANY
• Fifty-seven Tar Heel players will be making their first trip out of the country this week when Carolina travels to Dublin, Ireland, for its season opener.
• UNC's roster features seven players that have been to Ireland, including Irish native Adam McCann-Gibbs.
• Running back Benjamin Hall, offensive lineman Christo Kelly, linebacker Derek McDonald and defensive lineman Xavier Lewis had the opportunity to visit Dublin, Ireland, in May for a promotional trip. During the visit, the players visited local schools and establishments to help promote the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
• Freshman offensive lineman Will Conroy is the other Tar Heel on the roster that has been to Ireland in addition to Hickman-Collins.

CAROLINA IN SEASON OPENERS
• In the ACC era (since 1953), Carolina is 40-33 in season openers.
• The Tar Heels have won five of their last seven season openers dating back to 2019.

CAROLINA CAPTAINS
• Running back Benjamin Hall, offensive lineman Christo Kelly, wide receiver Jordan Shipp, defensive linemen Melkart Abou Jaoude and Isaiah Johnson, linebacker Derek McDonald and defensive back Kaleb Cost have been named to the 2026 Carolina Football Team Captains.

HIGHLY-TOUTED RECRUITING CLASS
• The Tar Heels signed the nation's 12th-ranked recruiting class, according to ESPN, in December.
• The class features 40 players from 19 different states and one international player. Carolina signed nine defensive backs, seven offensive and defensive lineman, five linebackers, five wide receivers, two tight ends, one quarterback, one punter and one long snapper.
• As one of the largest signing classes in the nation with 40, the Tar Heels' class is a consensus top-20 group by all recruiting services, checking in at No. 17 in 247Sports and On3/Rivals.
• Carolina had 31 of its 40 signees enroll early with the program in January.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
• Thanks to its large signing class, Carolina will have one of the youngest teams in the country this season.
• In addition to the 40 true freshmen, the Tar Heels also have 17 redshirt freshman.
• Factor in four sophomores and 15 redshirt sophomores, 76 players on the 2026 roster are underclassmen.

KENAN 100
• Carolina football will celebrate the 100th season of Kenan Stadium during the 2026 season with a series of special events, facility enhancements and fan experiences to honor 100 years of one of the most picturesque athletic venues in the country.
• With the first game in Kenan Stadium on Nov. 24, 1927, Kenan Stadium has hosted 551 football games with the Tar Heels owning a 328-207-16 (.610) record in those contests. UNC has been unbeaten at home in 11 seasons, most recently during the 2015 ACC Coastal Division championship campaign.
• The 100th season celebration will pay tribute to some of the most memorable moments in the history of Kenan Stadium, as well as provide fans with an upgraded experience on gamedays.

KEEP AN EYE ON...
• Five UNC student-athletes have appeared on a preseason watch list in advance of the start of the 2026 season. Below is a comprehensive list:

- RB Demon June (Doak Walker Award)
- WR Jordan Shipp (Wuerrfel Trophy)
- TE Jelani Thurman (Mackey Award)
- DL Melkart Abou Jaoude (Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Award)
- LB Peyton Seelmann (Butkus Award)

Football To Open 2026 Season Against TCU In Aer Lingus Classic

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Players Mentioned

Melkart Abou Jaoude

Will Conroy

Kaleb Cost

Benjamin Hall

Timir Hickman-Collins

Isaiah Johnson

Demon June

Christo Kelly

Xavier Lewis

Adam McCann-Gibbs

Derek McDonald

Peyton Seelmann

Jordan Shipp

Jelani Thurman

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