Overseas college football opener: TCU, North Carolina to play in Ireland in 2026
TCU will open the 2026 season against North Carolina in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, at Aviva Stadium.
Both universities made formal announcements at a press conferences Tuesday morning.
It marks the first international game in program history for the Horned Frogs. North Carolina was originally slated to play in Fort Worth in 2026.
“Texas Christian University is committed to providing our student-athletes with the best collegiate experience in the country through the most competitive and world-class athletics programs, education, facilities, student support and opportunities for success,” TCU President Daniel W. Pullin said. “The 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic aligns perfectly with those goals, providing our student-athletes with a unique educational and cultural experience abroad and a chance to display their talents internationally.”
College football has expanded its presence in Ireland dating back to 1988. The classic has hosted four games since 2016 including Florida State and Georgia Tech last season. Iowa State and Kansas State will open the season in Ireland on Aug. 23.
“We will take great pride in representing TCU internationally,” TCU Head Football Coach Sonny Dykes said. “With a good number of our players not having traveled overseas, I am most happy for them to have this opportunity and very much appreciate Aer Lingus and Irish American Events 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.”
For Dykes, he views this game as an opportunity to impact the lives of his players beyond the field.
“When this opportunity arose for me, the No. 1 thing was the experience of our student-athletes,” Dykes said. “You want to be able to provide so many different things to the young men and women in your program. We’re going to be able to do something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
“This is something they’ll be able to talk to their kids and grandchildren about. From my perspective it’s a win-win in every shape.”
Former TCU defensive lineman Nana Osafo-Mensah can attest to the impact the classic had on his life. He had an opportunity to play in Ireland during his time at Notre Dame and has maintained connections overseas he developed from his time in Dublin.
“The quote more than a game is a perfect definition of what this experience is like,” Osafo-Mensah said. “I remember my game in Ireland was probably my most memorable game that I’ve played in life. Not just because of the atmosphere, but the whole experience. We were there for a week and we were able to do so many things in Ireland. Going to see different destinations, meeting a lot of different people and have the team come together with all the traditions they had in Ireland.”
The Horned Frogs landed on the classic’s radar thanks to a local tie to the event’s co-founder John Anthony.
“You can take the boy of out of Fort Worth, but you can’t take the Fort Worth of out the boy,” Anthony said. “We had been watching very closely as this program has gotten better and better at football over the years with Coach Dykes taking them to the championship game. We watched very closely as the alumni and fans, so passionately and loyally followed this program around to some of the best destinations around the country.
“We watched very closely as Chancellor (Victor) Boschini and the leadership team have taken what I considered a local school back then and made it so prominent on the national stage of higher ed. I think the only frontier left is the global stage.”
It’ll be a marquee game for TCU as the Horned Frogs will face coach Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels for the second straight season opener. TCU travels to Chapel Hill on Sept. 1.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity for our program, and we’re excited to represent the university and our fans on an international stage,” Belichick said.
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 8:50 AM.
