The 2026 North Carolina Football Schedule starts about as far from home as a college football season can begin.
A season opener in Dublin, Ireland, against TCU. Two bye weeks inside the first month. And Notre Dame, Miami, and Louisville all visiting Chapel Hill before the year is out. For North Carolina Tar Heels football, the international opener and the high-profile home dates will define the season.
Here is the complete 2026 North Carolina Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 North Carolina Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus College Football Classic | ||||
| Saturday | vs TCU Horned FrogsAviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 12:00 PM ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | ETSU BuccaneersKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | 12:00 PM ETACCN | ||
| Saturday | at Clemson TigersMemorial Stadium, Clemson, SC | 12:00 PM ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | Notre Dame Fighting IrishKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Pitt PanthersAcrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Duke Blue DevilsWallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | Syracuse OrangeKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | Miami (FL) HurricanesKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at UConn HuskiesRentschler Field, East Hartford, CT | 12:00 PM ETCBSSN | ||
| Homecoming | ||||
| Saturday | Louisville CardinalsKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Virginia CavaliersScott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | NC State WolfpackKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs ACC ChampionshipBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 12:00 PM ETABC | ||
A Season Opener Across the Atlantic
North Carolina opens the 2026 North Carolina Tar Heels football schedule about 3,300 miles from Chapel Hill, facing TCU in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. A bye week on September 5 gives the Tar Heels time to recover from the trip before ETSU visits Kenan Memorial Stadium and a road game at Clemson follows — a demanding opening month bookended by international travel and a true road test. For North Carolina Tar Heels football, starting this way tests readiness immediately.
A Second Bye, Then Notre Dame Comes to Town
A second bye week on September 26 sets up one of the marquee dates on the entire North Carolina ACC schedule 2026: North Carolina vs Notre Dame 2026 arrives October 3, with Notre Dame visiting Chapel Hill for a nationally relevant matchup. Road trips to Pitt and Duke follow in consecutive weeks before Syracuse gives the Tar Heels a home date to regroup. Surviving that stretch intact would put North Carolina in strong position.
Miami, Then a Trip to Connecticut
Miami visits Kenan Memorial Stadium on Halloween for one of the ACC’s more storied rivalries, before an unusual road trip to UConn on November 7 breaks up the conference schedule. This portion of the North Carolina Football Schedule mixes high-profile home dates with unique travel.
Louisville, Virginia, and the Rivalry Finale
Louisville comes to Chapel Hill for Homecoming on November 14, followed by a road trip to Virginia. The regular season closes at home against NC State on November 28, the in-state rivalry that always carries weight regardless of either team’s record. If North Carolina is still playing December 5, it is in Charlotte for the ACC Championship.
The 2026 North Carolina Football Schedule challenges North Carolina Tar Heels football from the opening game in Dublin through the final regular-season rivalry game. Seven home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium provide a solid base, while the early international trip, the Notre Dame home date, and the late stretch against Miami, Louisville and NC State will determine the ceiling. How the Tar Heels respond to those high-stakes windows will shape the entire season narrative.
FAQ
When does North Carolina football play its first game in 2026?
North Carolina opens the 2026 North Carolina Football Schedule against TCU in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, August 29.
When is North Carolina vs Notre Dame 2026?
North Carolina vs Notre Dame 2026 is set for Saturday, October 3, at home at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill.
How many home games does North Carolina play in 2026?
North Carolina has seven North Carolina football home games in 2026 at Kenan Memorial Stadium: ETSU, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Miami, Louisville, and NC State.
What is North Carolina’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The run from Notre Dame (home) through Pitt (road) and Duke (road) — October 3 through October 17 — is the toughest stretch on the North Carolina ACC schedule 2026, alongside the season-opening trip to Dublin against TCU.
