North Carolina football upsets TCU in Ireland season opener

The North Carolina Tar Heels opened their 2026 football season with a 15-10 upset victory over the TCU Horned Frogs at the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, Ireland. The win marks a successful start to head coach Bill Belichick’s second season with the program, following a 4-8 record in his debut year.

Defensive standout Xavier Lewis was named the game's Most Valuable Player, recording seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. Fellow defensive player Derek McDonald earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors after logging 11 tackles. On the offensive side, quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 232 yards, while tight end Jelani Thurman recorded 94 yards on four receptions.

The victory snapped a long scoring streak for TCU and provided a significant turnaround from the previous year's matchup, where North Carolina lost to TCU 48-14. The Tar Heels are scheduled to return to the United States for their home opener against East Tennessee State on September 12.