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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | vs TCU Horned FrogsAviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 12:00 PM ETESPN/Disney+ | Win 15-10 | |
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | vs ETSU BuccaneersKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | 12:00 PM ETACCN | Win 35-3 | |
| Saturday | at Clemson TigersMemorial Stadium, Clemson, SC | 12:00 PM ETESPN/Disney+ | Loss 28-20 | |
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | 12:00 PM ETESPN/Disney+ | Loss 37-26 | |
| Saturday | at Pitt PanthersAcrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | 12:00 PM ETESPN | Win 21-17 | |
| Saturday | at Duke Blue DevilsWallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Syracuse OrangeKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Miami (FL) HurricanesKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at UConn HuskiesRentschler Field, East Hartford, CT | 12:00 PM ETCBSSN | ||
| Saturday | vs Louisville CardinalsKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | Homecoming | |
| Saturday | at Virginia CavaliersScott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs 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 |
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An Opener Across the Atlantic
Dublin, then two early tests
- TCU in Ireland
- Bye week
- ETSU at home
- Clemson on the road
- Second bye week
North Carolina Tar Heels football opens 3,300 miles from Chapel Hill against TCU at Aviva Stadium. A pair of bye weeks bookend the first month before Clemson arrives on the road.
Notre Dame Arrives, Then a Tough Road Pair
- North Carolina vs Notre Dame 2026 at home
- Pitt on the road
- Duke on the road
- Syracuse at home
A second bye sets up North Carolina vs Notre Dame 2026 on October 3. Consecutive road trips to Pitt and Duke follow before Syracuse returns the Tar Heels home.
High-Profile Home Dates and a Unique Road Trip
- Miami at home
- UConn on the road
- Louisville at home for Homecoming
Miami visits on Halloween for one of the ACC’s more storied matchups. An unusual non-conference trip to UConn breaks up the conference slate before Louisville arrives for Homecoming.
Rivalry Closer Caps the Regular Season
- Virginia on the road
- NC State at home
- ACC Championship if still alive
A road trip to Virginia sets up the in-state finale against NC State on November 28.
North Carolina Football Home Games 2026
North Carolina has seven true home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium:
- ETSU (Sep 12)
- Notre Dame (Oct 3)
- Syracuse (Oct 24)
- Miami (Oct 31)
- Louisville (Nov 14)
- NC State (Nov 28)
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.
