TCU · Big 12TCU and North Carolina Open 2026 in Dublin on Aug. 29 at Noon ET
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic headlines Week Zero, with streaming through ESPN Unlimited and the major live-TV services.
AUG 28, 2026
TCU and North Carolina will open the 2026 season Aug. 29 at noon ET in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin. The game is set to stream on ESPN Unlimited and be available through YouTube TV, Fubo and DirecTV.
It is part of Week Zero, which begins Aug. 27 and gets both teams on the field a week before most of the country. TCU comes off a 9-4 season (5-4 in conference play). North Carolina finished 4-8 (2-6) and gets its rebound attempt with the whole sport watching a noon kickoff and nothing else on.
For the subscription math: ESPN Unlimited runs $29.99 per month, ESPN Select $12.99. YouTube TV is $68 per month for the first five months with a $15 discount, then $83. Fubo's Sports and News plan is $64.99 per month, and DirecTV's CHOICE package starts at $64.99 for the first month.
Other early-season dates already set: Colorado vs. Georgia Tech on Sept. 3, Texas State at Texas on Sept. 5 and Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame on Sept. 6.