Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Jaden Craig across Football.
Xavier Lewis and Derek McDonald were highlighted by the ACC for their contributions in North Carolina's 15-10 upset of TCU, a game that featured a dominant defensive stretch and sets the stage for a September showdown with ETSU.
Week 0 of the 2026 college football season delivered dramatic defensive battles, surprising collapses, and emerging storylines that hint at a competitive year ahead.
The first week of college football delivered surprising outcomes, standout individual performances and notable roster moves that will influence early season rankings.
A wave of preseason injuries has forced several programs to reshape their lineups before the first games of the 2026 season.
North Carolina and TCU meet again in Ireland, with new talent and historic performances shaping the preview.
The 2026 college football season kicks off with a high‑stakes matchup in Dublin, featuring a new-look North Carolina team under Bill Belichick against a TCU team projected to win 34‑17.
Despite UNC’s potential matchup advantages, TCU’s depth, experience, and talent across the board position the Horned Frogs as clear favorites, with a forecasted score of 34‑20.
The Atlantic Coast Conference opens its 2026 football campaign on August 29, highlighted by an unprecedented game in Dublin and a host of storylines across the conference.
On August 29, 2026, the TCU Horned Frogs and North Carolina Tar Heels will clash in Dublin, Ireland, marking the first international college football game for both programs and highlighting new storylines under head coaches Sonny Dykes and Bill Belichick.
The Horned Frogs travel to Ireland for their first 2026 game, with Jaden Craig debuting under a mixed zone‑run and Air Raid system while ESPN broadcasts the matchup at 11 a.m. Central.
North Carolina’s defense, bolstered by returning star Melkart Abou‑Jaoude and key transfers, prepares to shut down TCU’s potent attack in the season‑opening clash in Dublin.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will open their season in Week 0 against TCU, but they will do so without their defensive coordinator, Steve Belichick, who remains on medical leave after being absent from training camp since the summer. With Bill Belichick and defensive line coach Bob Diaco leading the effort, the team hopes to improve on a 4‑8 record from 2022 and avenge last year’s loss to the Horned Frogs.
On August 29, 2026, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will open its season against Texas Christian University in Dublin, Ireland, in the first international game in program history, broadcast live on ESPN.
TCU Horned Frogs open the 2026 season in Dublin against North Carolina, featuring returning stars and a new quarterback, while Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels prepare for a pivotal test.
College football’s opening week this year is unusually rich, with a handful of games scheduled before the traditional Labor Day kickoff. For Kansas State supporters, the action begins at home, where they can follow the Week 0 slate without the need to travel to Dublin, Ireland, a destination that has drawn attention for its novelty but also raised logistical questions for fans hoping to attend in person.
Harvard’s football program is gearing up for its 153rd season, highlighted by a highly ranked incoming class and a new NCAA eligibility framework that could reshape player pathways.
North Carolina will open its 2026 football campaign against TCU in a Week Zero showdown scheduled for August 29 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The game marks a symbolic reset for the Tar Heels after a 48‑14 defeat to the Horned Frogs a year earlier, and it arrives under the guidance of a new coaching staff.
Texas Tech enters the 2026 Big 12 season as the favorite, riding a historic title and a favorable schedule, while several programs brace for major coaching changes.
The Tar Heels open their 2026 season against the Horned Frogs in Dublin, aiming to overturn last year's 48‑14 defeat.
From a Dublin rematch between North Carolina and TCU to North Dakota State’s FBS debut, the opening week promises twists that could ripple through the playoff picture.
With a 23‑4 record over the past two seasons, a No. 14 preseason ranking and a schedule that includes marquee matchups against Notre Dame and Utah, the BYU Cougars are poised for a breakout year. Coach Kalani Sitake’s humble approach and expert predictions of an 11‑1 campaign add to the excitement.
Texas Christian University will host its inaugural overseas game in Dublin on August 29, 2026, facing North Carolina in a milestone Week Zero contest that highlights the program’s rising national profile.
TCU cancels a home game to host North Carolina in Dublin, using the event to amplify the university and Fort Worth’s international profile, attract thousands of American fans, and foster cross‑border academic and economic ties.
An in‑depth look at the expanded Football Bowl Subdivision rankings, the criteria behind them, and the storylines surrounding the teams and players poised to influence the 2026 season.