TCU and North Carolina will play their 2026 opener in Ireland, which will come a year after coach Bill Belichick’s debut with the Tar Heels at home against the Horned Frogs.

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.

North Carolina looks at its 2026 game in Ireland against TCU as an example of the bump from hiring Bill Belichick in its efforts to boost the school's football profile