The 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic will feature the TCU Horned Frogs facing the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Dublin's Aviva Stadium. This event marks the first international game for both programs and will serve as the kickoff for the 2026 college football season.

North Carolina will be led by legendary coach Bill Belichick, who took over the Tar Heels in December 2024 after his tenure with the New England Patriots. This will be the fifth meeting between TCU and North Carolina, with their last encounter in 1997 resulting in a 31–10 victory for UNC. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic has become an annual tradition in Dublin, bringing American college football to Irish fans and contributing significantly to local tourism.