Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels and the TCU Horned Frogs are in Dublin for the 2026 college football season opener. However, fans are already questioning whether the matchup belongs in Ireland.
CFB Fans Unimpressed With 2026 CFB Opener in Dublin
The Tar Heels and Horned Frogs opened their 2026 campaigns at Aviva Stadium on Saturday. This is Belichick’s second season as UNC’s head coach, as around 14,000 US sports fans are traveling to Ireland for this year’s game. However, the atmosphere around the game has left plenty of fans unimpressed.
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The game is the second straight season that UNC and TCU have met in Week 1. Fans were quick to rip the atmosphere and turnout for this year’s Dublin matchup.
One fan wrote, “Nobody at the Dublin college football season opener ? Such a poor turnout.”
Nobody at the Dublin college football season opener ? Such a poor turnout
— JC 🇮🇪🇺🇦 (@jackcummins_9) August 29, 2026
Another said, “Watching North Carolina and TCU in Dublin… It’s a little lackluster for a semi-college football season opener. Zero College Football Atmosphere. These games should be reconsidered for the future; that or have rooter planes filled with students from each school…”
Watching North Carolina and TCU in Dublin… it’s a little lack luster for a semi college football season opener.
Zero College Football Atmosphere.
These games should be reconsidered for the future… that or have rooter planes filled with students from each school… airfare and…
— Speakfreely_ (@Speakfreely_2) August 29, 2026
One more fan posted, “Can we please take away the week 0 Dublin game? This doesn’t even feel like college football.”
“College football games being played in another country has to be the dumbest thing to happen to college football EVER. Who is watching American college football in Ireland, particularly UNC or TCU…,” said another.
Brooks Austin said, “My wife who knows nothing about football: ‘Why are they in Ireland.’ See? Even the non ball knowers know this is silly.”
My wife who knows nothing about football:
“Why are they in Ireland”
See? Even the non ball knowers know this is silly.
— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) August 29, 2026
“Why is the UNC vs. TCU college football game being played in Ireland? It seems pretty damn stupid. Is the @NCAA going to expand into Europe? Anything for money,” commented one more.
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The Horned Frogs dominated Belichick’s college football debut last year, recording a massive 48-14 win.
Despite the lower number of traveling fans, the Dublin game remains an important event for Ireland’s tourism industry. Last year’s edition reportedly generated €132 million for the Irish economy.
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UNC finished 4-8 last season and placed 14th in the ACC, while TCU went 9-4 and finished tied for seventh in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs ended the season ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll.
While the Aer Lingus College Football Classic remains a major part of the college football calendar, fans are already questioning the turnout and atmosphere. The future of neutral-site games outside the United States could become another talking point around the sport.
