Texas & North Carolina Unveiled as 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic Participants

Texas Christian University (TCU) and the University of North Carolina (UNC) will open the 2026 college football season in Dublin, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, it has been announced.

The game will be held on August 29^th, 2026, at the Aviva Stadium. 

TCU, from Fort Worth, Texas will serve as the home team in Dublin against UNC who have recently appointed Bill Belichick as head football coach. Belichick is considered by many as the greatest coach in all of professional sports as he has won an NFL- record eight Super Bowls – six as a head coach for the New England Patriots and two as an assistant coach with the New York Giants. Belichick drafted and crafted superstars such as Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

“We’re grateful to be selected to participate in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. It’s a tremendous opportunity for our program and we’re excited to represent the university and our community on an international stage,” said UNC Head Football Coach Bill Belichick.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches and staff to enjoy a terrific educational and cultural experience while showcasing the Carolina brand internationally,’’ said UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. “We appreciate being chosen for this event and we look forward to having our alumni and fans join us in Ireland and cheer us on in person for what will be a memorable and special trip.”

“We are extremely honoured that TCU has been invited to participate in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic,” TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Buddie said. “This is more than just a football game. It’s an opportunity to advance TCU’s brand globally while having our student-athletes experience a unique educational opportunity and memory of a lifetime. We thank Aer Lingus and Irish American Events for our selection and know our fans will travel very well, turning Dublin into a sea of purple.”

“We will take great pride in representing TCU internationally,” said TCU Head Football Coach Sonny Dykes. “With a good number of our players not having travelled overseas, I am most happy for them to have this opportunity and very much appreciate the Aer Lingus College Football Classic making it possible for them as well as all of TCU to share in this experience. It will be special to take the field in Dublin and for our fans to see us on this type of stage in Ireland. We have enjoyed watching past Aer Lingus College Football Classic games, and it’s a true honor for us to now play in it and kick off the 2026 college football season.”

“I welcome the news that TCU and the University of North Carolina have been chosen to play the fifth game in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic series,” said Patrick O’Donovan, Irish Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport. “This event is now a firm fixture in the Irish sporting calendar. It has huge benefits for Irish tourism, the wider economy, and our sports ecosystem and indeed creates a great atmosphere in Dublin for visitors and locals alike. We look forward to welcoming the teams and their supporters in August 2026 to the Aviva Stadium and to Dublin and beyond, as they take the opportunity of the occasion to explore other parts of Ireland.” 

As title sponsor, Aer Lingus is responsible for transporting the teams and their delegations to Dublin. Aer Lingus, the Irish flag carrier, operates 21 routes from North America direct to Ireland, as well as offering seamless connections to Europe for U.S. travelers via its hub at Dublin airport.

Aer Lingus Chief Executive, Lynne Embleton said: “The Aer Lingus College Football Classic is a key pillar in the Irish sporting calendar and plays a unique role in strengthening the ties between Ireland and the United States. This celebrated event draws tens of thousands of College Football fans to Irish shores each year, offering them the chance to support their teams whilst experiencing the unparalleled warmth of Irish hospitality. As an airline committed to connecting people, places and possibilities, Aer Lingus is proud to fly 21 routes from North America to Ireland in 2025. We look forward to welcoming Texas Christian University (TCU), University of North Carolina (UNC), and their many supporters, as they travel with Aer Lingus to Dublin for what promises to be an unforgettable game.”

The 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic will be just the fifth time TCU and North Carolina football teams compete against each other dating back to 1940 and the first time for both teams to have played football internationally.

TCU are two-time National Championship winners and most recently reached the College Football National Championship in 2022. While both teams have a rich history of producing top level football talent, UNC have also produced other sporting legends such as 6-time NBA Champion Micheal Jordan and 2x Olympic Gold Medallist and FIFA World Cup Winner Mia Hamm to name a few.

Minister of State with Responsibility for Sport Charlie McConalogue said: “I am delighted to welcome TCU and the University of North Carolina next year to Ireland for the fifth consecutive season of the US College Football series. This further solidifies Dublin’s status as the European Home of College Football. The series is known for the manner in which it generates many networking opportunities, facilitates educational links between universities and creates enduring friendships between American and Irish people. It also presents a significant opportunity to strengthen the economic, sporting and cultural ties between the United States and Ireland at all levels.”

“We are thrilled to welcome TCU and the University of North Carolina to Dublin for the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic,” said Padraic O’Kane, Co-Founder and Director of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. “This marquee matchup marks the fifth game in our initial five-year series, which we’re proud to announce has now been extended by 2 more years through to 2028. Universities from Pittsburgh and Wisconsin are set to clash in 2027 and strong discussions are currently in play for a competitive 2028 game too. Even more exciting, we’re working closely with the government and key stakeholders to extend the series by another decade—firmly establishing Dublin as the European home of college football and a premier destination for world-class international sporting events.”

This year’s Aer Lingus College Football Classic, taking place on August 23^rd, will see Kansas State University take on Iowa State University. The season opener already has over 21,000 US fans confirmed to travel to Dublin for game week. General tickets are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.ie/collegefootball and more information can be found across the Aer Lingus College Football Classic social media channels Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram over the coming weeks and months. To find out why it’s #MuchMoreThanAGame visit https://collegefootballireland.com/