TCU was not able to repeat its thrashing of North Carolina, as the Bill Belichick-led Tar Heels got even in a 15-10 slugfest from Ireland.
The first game of the season for TCU is in the books and it did not go exactly as expected for the Horned Frogs in their debut in Dublin.
TCU and North Carolina not only traded blows with each other but had to handle all of the experiences that go alongside playing in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
As was anticipated, rain and other poor conditions hampered the quality of the field and caused several issues early for each squad attempting to establish momentum.
The Tar Heels struck first after driving 73 yards in 10 plays before settling for a 20-yard field goal to open scoring for the year in the power ranks of college football.
TCU was not far behind, as the Horned went 62 yards in seven plays to earn the equalizer off the foot of Kyle Lemmerman.
The Horned Frogs' offense kept firing late in the first quarter and finally found the end zone after Jon Denman powered in from two yards out for their first touchdown of the year.
However, Bill Belichick and North Carolina were able to do something that eluded them in their previous meeting with TCU that ended in a blowout.
The Tar Heels responded to the punch by flying down the field before the opening quarter could draw to a close and notched a touchdown of their own, courtesy of Jaylen McGill.
Following the opening fireworks, the defenses took over for both TCU and North Carolina, as the lone score before the halftime break was a safety forced by the Tar Heels after the ball sailed over the head of punter John Hoyet Chance and kicked out of the back of the end zone.
Trailing narrowly 12-10 at the intermission, head coach Sonny Dykes looked to rally his latest squad in the primetime atmosphere.
Instead it was North Carolina extending its lead in the ensuing quarter off of another short field goal. That extra three points was again the only score of the frame and sent the affair into the fourth quarter at 15-10.
Once again, the Tar Heels flexed their defensive muscles and held off push after push from TCU to reclaim the lead.
The biggest miscue for the Horned Frogs came late in the final quarter after they were unable to convert on a pivotal fourth down deep in the red zone, which was the second failed conversion of the game for TCU.
That allowed North Carolina to milk out the remaining time without the ball ever getting back into the hand of Jaden Craig and TCU saw its chance to down the Tar Heels once again disappear.
Following last year's thrilling 48-14 victory, the Horned Frogs tasted the bitter taste of defeat in a 15-10 heartbreaker.
For Belichick, it was a huge statement to flip the script and could potentially earn him some more wiggle room in a make-or-break season in Chapel Hill.
The Horned Frogs will return to Fort Worth and get an additional week off before making their home debut against Grambling State on Sept. 12.
