The 2026 North Carolina football schedule opens in Dublin against TCU on August 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET. The North Carolina Tar Heels Football schedule features 13 regular-season games plus a potential ACC Championship berth, with two early bye weeks and high-profile home dates against ranked Notre Dame and Miami.
Kenan Memorial Stadium hosts six home dates on the 2026 North Carolina football schedule. The toughest stretch lands in late October with consecutive home games against Syracuse and #7 Miami before a late-season road trip to Virginia
2026 North Carolina Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus CFB Classic | ||||
| Saturday | vs TCU Horned FrogsAviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 12:00pm ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | ETSU BuccaneersKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | 12:00pm ETACCN | ||
| Saturday | at Clemson TigersMemorial Stadium, Clemson, SC | 12:00pm ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | 4 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 | 7 Miami (FL) HurricanesKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at UConn HuskiesRentschler Field, East Hartford, CT | 12:00pm ETCBSSN | ||
| Saturday | 24 Louisville CardinalsKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| South’s Oldest Rivalry | ||||
| 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 | 12:00pm ETABC | ||
How the 2026 North Carolina Football Schedule Sets Up
August and September open with an international flavor on the 2026 North Carolina football schedule. The Aer Lingus CFB Classic against TCU in Dublin, a bye, ETSU at home, a road trip to Clemson, and another bye. That early stretch gives the Tar Heels a unique neutral-site opener and two recovery weeks before the ACC slate intensifies.
October brings the biggest early test: #4 Notre Dame at home, followed by road games at Pitt and Duke, then home dates against Syracuse and #7 Miami. The Notre Dame and Miami games will define the middle of the season.
November features a road trip to UConn, #24 Louisville at home, the South’s Oldest Rivalry at Virginia, and NC State at home. That final month mixes a ranked home game with two historic rivalries.
Home Games at Kenan Memorial Stadium
Six home dates appear on the 2026 North Carolina football schedule:
- September 12 vs. ETSU
- October 3 vs. #4 Notre Dame
- October 24 vs. Syracuse
- October 31 vs. #7 Miami
- November 14 vs. #24 Louisville
- November 28 vs. NC State
The Notre Dame, Miami and Louisville games will generate the loudest crowds in Chapel Hill.
The Games That Decide the Season
Three contests stand out on the 2026 North Carolina football schedule.
The October 3 home game against #4 Notre Dame is the clearest early measuring stick. The October 31 home date against #7 Miami is a major ACC test. The November 21 South’s Oldest Rivalry at Virginia always carries extra weight, regardless of records.
Win two of those three and the Tar Heels stay in control of their path toward a possible December 5 ACC Championship appearance in Charlotte.
Where to Watch North Carolina Football: TV and Streaming
Confirmed networks on the North Carolina TV schedule 2026:
- ESPN (Aug. 29 vs. TCU and Sept. 19 at Clemson)
- ACCN (Sept. 12 vs. ETSU)
- CBSSN (Nov. 7 at UConn)
- ABC (Dec. 5 ACC Championship)
Most remaining ACC games still list TV as TBA. Expect the usual mix of ESPN networks and ACC Network once the final assignments drop.
Key Dates at a Glance
- Aug. 29 — Season opener vs. TCU in Dublin (Aer Lingus CFB Classic), 12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Oct. 3 — #4 Notre Dame at home
- Oct. 31 — #7 Miami at home
- Nov. 21 — South’s Oldest Rivalry at Virginia
- Nov. 28 — NC State at home
- Dec. 5 — Potential ACC Championship in Charlotte, noon, ABC
The North Carolina football schedule 2026 opens in Ireland and builds toward ranked home tests and historic rivalries. November will decide everything.
