Early Bird Preview: UNC gets early shot at revenge vs. TCU — in Dublin

TL;DR

North Carolina will face TCU in their season opener on August 29 in Dublin, Ireland, seeking revenge after last year's 48-14 loss. The game marks a rematch of their previous encounter, which was a significant event in Chapel Hill.

Key points

UNC faces TCU in Dublin on August 29
Last year's game ended with TCU winning 48-14
The matchup is a rematch of last season's opener
Michael Jordan attended last year's game
Bill Belichick made his collegiate debut in the previous matchup

Mentioned in this story

Dublin, IrelandMichael Jordan

Bill BelichickNorth CarolinaTCU

Just like last season, North Carolina will take on TCU in the season opener, with the only difference being that the game will be played in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 29.

Last year’s matchup was the highly anticipated debut of Bill Belichick’s collegiate career, and everyone in Chapel Hill could not wait. Franklin Street was full, ESPN was in town to set up College GameDay, and multiple celebrities were in attendance, including Michael Jordan himself.

The game opened with a jolt as former starting quarterback Gio Lopez engineered a sharp touchdown drive capped by a Caleb Hood goal-line run, sending Kenan Stadium into an early eruption.

That would be the last real surge of adrenaline inside Kenan for the rest of the game — and, as it turned out, the season. Lopez did not complete another pass for roughly two hours of real time. North Carolina scored just once more, while TCU controlled the game on both sides of the ball. The Horned Frogs blitzed UNC, 48-14, spoiling what could have been a magical night in Chapel Hill.

Here is a way-too-early sneak peek of the Horned Frogs.

How did TCU fare last season?

Dec 30, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Ken Seals (center) and head coach Sonny Dykes celebrate after victory over Southern California Trojans in the Alamo Bowl as Valero chief operating officer Gary Simmons (left) watches at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Including their win over North Carolina, TCU opened the season 3-0 and earned a convincing victory over a solid SMU team coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, catapulting the Horned Frogs to No. 24 in the Associated Press poll.