North Carolina’s 2026 football schedule comes with plenty of attention baked in, and it starts with Bill Belichick trying to steer the Tar Heels into a better second act after a 4-8 finish in 2025. Year two of his college run brings a fresh chance to reset the narrative, though the challenge is obvious from the jump.
UNC opens on the international stage against TCU in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, August 29. That kickoff sets the tone for a season that includes a mix of early spotlight games, ACC battles and a December date with a title on the line.
The Tar Heels will have Billy Edwards Jr. under center as their starting quarterback. Edwards, a former blue-chip prospect, spent four seasons in the Big Ten between Maryland and Wisconsin and has thrown for 3,435 yards. He’ll have a familiar weapon in Jordan Shipp, who returned to Chapel Hill after leading UNC’s receiving corps in 2025 with 671 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, North Carolina leans on Preseason All-American Melkart Abou Jaoude, who paced the conference with 10.5 sacks last season.
Here’s the full 2026 UNC football TV schedule:
Aug. 29 vs. TCU - Noon ET, ESPN
Sept. 12 vs. East Tenn.
St. - Noon ET, ACCN
Sept. 19 at Clemson - Noon ET, ESPN
Oct. 3 vs. Notre Dame - TBA, TBA
Oct. 10 at Pittsburgh - TBA, TBA
Oct. 17 at Duke - TBA, TBA
Oct. 24 vs. Syracuse - TBA, TBA
Oct. 31 vs. Miami - TBA, TBA
Nov. 7 at UConn - Noon ET, CBSSN
Nov. 14 vs.
Louisville - TBA, TBA
Nov. 21 at Virginia - TBA, TBA
Nov. 28 vs. NC State - TBA, TBA
Dec. 5 ACC Championship - Noon ET, ABC
In Other News...
TCUs Dublin Opener Just Got Pulled Into UNCs Biggest Distraction
Bill Belichick heads into his second season at North Carolina after a 4-8 debut, and the Tar Heels are already dealing with the kind of attention that can follow a coaching hire this big. As UNC prepares for its trip to Dublin to face TCU, the conversation around the opener has not been limited to football, with the schools most scrutinized public figure continuing to draw interest well beyond the sideline.
Jordon Hudson has been a notable presence in Belichicks personal and professional orbit, and her visibility around the program has become part of the story wherever UNC goes. Whether she makes the trip to Ireland remains unclear, but even the possibility has added another layer to a game that was supposed to be about Belichicks next step with the Tar Heels and an overseas matchup against the Horned Frogs. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Hudsons Cowboys Fight Suddenly Carries A Huge TCU Twist
Jordan Hudsons path through Cowboys camp has turned into one of the more interesting side stories for TCU fans, even if the immediate goal remains the same. The undrafted rookie receiver is still trying to carve out a spot in Dallas, but the odds of landing on the 53-man roster are slim enough that the next stop could be the practice squad or another NFL opportunity elsewhere.
What makes the situation more compelling from a Horned Frogs angle is the legal wrinkle now hanging over his future. A temporary restraining order granted by a Dallas judge could open the door for players who have already played professionally to return to NCAA sports, with a hearing set for September 11, and Hudson has already said he is focused on making the Cowboys but would have to weigh a college return if he gets cut. For TCU, that keeps a familiar name in play a little longer than expected, with the next decision pointing in two very different directions. [Read more 🡒]
North Carolina Just Caught A Break In Its Week 0 Opener
TCUs Week 0 trip to Dublin was already carrying a fair bit of intrigue, and now the opener against North Carolina comes with a little more uncertainty on the Horned Frogs side. The Frogs will be without Jordan Dwyer, their leading returning receiver, after a foot injury leaves him inactive for the game, even though he did travel with the team.
That absence puts more on rookie quarterback Jaden Craig as he makes his FBS debut, especially with a season-opening spotlight and a major nonconference opponent on the other sideline. It also puts more weight on the rest of TCUs receiving group, with Ed Small and Jeremy Scott among the players expected to absorb a bigger share of the work. [Read more 🡒]