UNC vs TCU football live updates: Start time, TV channel for 2026 season opener
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After a long, agonizing and lawsuit-filled offseason, college football is back.
North Carolina and TCU will open up the 2026 college football season when they square off on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin: the first of eight games involving FBS teams in Week 0.
Watch North Carolina vs. TCU football live with Fubo (free trial)
The game is a rematch of the Horned Frogs’ 48-14 shellacking of the Tar Heels in their first game under coach Bill Belichick. The result was a sign of what was to come from both programs, with TCU finishing the season 9-4 and North Carolina limping to a 4-8 finish in a disastrous first season under Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots.
These won’t be the same two sides facing off, though.
The Horned Frogs lost quarterback Josh Hoover, who transferred to reigning national champion Indiana after throwing for 7,421 yards the past two seasons. He’ll be replaced by Jaden Craig, who set Harvard single-season records last season for touchdown passes (25) and passing yards (2,869). Craig was a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding offensive player at the FCS level. With Craig helping lead the way, TCU received the third-most votes of teams outside the top 25 of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.
The Tar Heels, meanwhile, have brought in a top-20 recruiting class with 40 freshmen who will be joining the team. After his team averaged just 19.3 points per game last season, ranking it 120th among 136 FBS teams, Belichick fired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and brought in Bobby Petrino to replace him. North Carolina was picked to finish 15th in the 17-team ACC in the conference’s preseason poll.
USA TODAY Sports is providing live scores, updates and highlights from the game between North Carolina and TCU. Follow along here:
UNC vs TCU live score
This section will be updated throughout the game.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| North Carolina | — | — | — | — | — |
| TCU | — | — | — | — | — |
UNC vs TCU live updates
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UNC vs TCU picks, predictions, odds
06:30 AM ET, August 29 2026, Craig Meyer
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, August 27
- Spread: TCU (-9.5)
- Over/under: 46.5 points
- Moneyline: TCU (-350) | North Carolina (+290)
Prediction: TCU 34, North Carolina 17
It's likely not to be as lopsided as last season, but even with Petrino calling plays, the North Carolina offense won't have the firepower to keep up with a Horned Frogs team that should make some noise in the Big 12 this season.
UNC vs TCU start time today
06:01 AM ET, August 29 2026, Craig Meyer
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
- Start time: Noon ET
- Location: Aviva Stadium (Dublin)
North Carolina and TCU are scheduled for a noon ET kickoff on Aug. 29 from Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The game, dubbed the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, is the official kickoff to the 2026 college football season.
What TV channel is UNC vs TCU on today?
06:01 AM ET, August 29 2026, Craig Meyer
- TV channel: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
North Carolina and TCU football's 2026 season-opener will air nationally on ESPN. Mike Monaco (play-by-play) and Jordan Rodgers (analyst) will be on the call while Dana Boyle will serve as the sideline reporter.
Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, which requires a valid cable login to access, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UNC vs TCU football live updates: Start time, TV channel for 2026 season opener
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