Whilst college football fans this side of the pond are looking forward to the 2025 season kicking off with ‘Farmegeddon’ as Kansas State v Iowa State at the Aviva Stadium in Week Zero, they have even more to look forward to in 2026 as the teams in next year’s edition of the Aer Lingus College Classic were announced Tuesday.

The 2026 season will open in Ireland with Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels taking on the TCU Horned Frogs on 29^th August. The two Power Four programmes will meet in Dublin for only the fifth time, with this year’s season-opener at Chapel Hill set to add to their three previous encounters in what will be Belichick’s college coaching debut. The most recent encounter resulted in a victory for North Carolina back in 1997, with the Tar Heels also winning the previous two encounters.

For Belichick, playing overseas will be no novelty, having guided the New England Patriots through several NFL International Series games.

“We’re grateful to be selected to participate in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic,” the multiple Super Bowl winner commented. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for our programme and we’re excited to represent the university and our community on an international stage.”

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes lacks the same global experience — and recognition — as his rival, but is looking forward to putting the Horned Frogs on the international map four seasons after leading them to a College Football Playoff semi-final.

“We will take great pride in representing TCU internationally,” Dykes said. “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.”

Confirmation of the 2026 matchup completes the first run of five games under the Aer Lingus College Classic banner, but co-founder and director Padraic O’Kane had more good news for fans of the college game.

“This marquee matchup marks the fifth game in our initial five-year series, which we’re proud to announce has now been extended by two more years through to 2028,” he said. “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.”