Sonny Dykes debuts a revamped roster in Dublin, seeking to spoil Bill Belichick’s revenge tour and secure a dominant international victory to ignite their 2026 campaign.
The wait is almost over for TCU football.
With just one week remaining until kickoff, the Horned Frogs are preparing for a unique opportunity to open the 2026 season on an international stage against North Carolina in Dublin, Ireland.
The matchup at Aviva Stadium will be TCU's first football game outside the United States and gives Sonny Dykes' team an immediate chance to make a statement.
There is also plenty of familiarity between these programs. TCU and UNC met to open the 2025 season, with the Horned Frogs dominating the Tar Heels 48-14. That game became one of the biggest early storylines in the country as TCU spoiled Bill Belichick's highly anticipated debut as a college head coach.
This year's matchup will look considerably different, however. TCU enters the season with a new starting quarterback in Jaden Craig, a new offensive coordinator in Gordon Sammis, and several new playmakers. While preseason practices have provided encouraging signs, the trip to Dublin will offer the first real test of how those pieces perform together when the games count.
That makes the UNC game particularly important for the Horned Frogs. A strong performance could immediately generate national attention while giving the team confidence heading into the rest of the nonconference schedule.
There could also be opportunities for individual players to emerge. Jordan Dwyer took advantage of the spotlight against UNC last season, catching nine passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. With so many new pieces on offense, another TCU player could use the international stage to announce himself to a national audience.
Perhaps most importantly, TCU can use the game to avoid the slow starts that have caused problems in recent seasons. The Horned Frogs have not reached October without an early blemish since 2022, making a victory over UNC an important first step toward building momentum.
TCU will have a bye after returning from Ireland before facing Grambling State, Arkansas State, and UCF. If the Frogs can handle that stretch, they could enter the Oct. 3 matchup with BYU with considerable momentum.
One week from now, TCU will have its first opportunity to show what this new-look team can become. A year after taking the national spotlight away from Belichick, the Horned Frogs have another chance to make their presence felt.
