Belichick Returns to the Sideline in Ireland
The 2026 college football season doesn’t wait for September. It explodes onto the scene today, Saturday, August 29, with a slate that feels different from any Week 0 before it. The headline act is a global spectacle. According to Yahoo Sports CFB (national), Bill Belichick starts his second year leading North Carolina in a matchup against TCU in Dublin, Ireland. It’s not a casual warm-up. It’s the official start of the campaign, and the pressure is already on.
Belichick’s return to the sideline in Dublin marks a massive shift in how the sport operates.
CBS Sports College reports that while FCS action dominated the 2026 season’s opening on Thursday and Friday, the first FBS games arrive on Saturday. The Tar Heels and Horned Frogs will kick off in the annual Aer-Lingus College Football Classic. North Carolina and TCU, both Power Four programs, will kick off the new campaign with the annual Aer-Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin. Fans won’t just watch a football game; they’ll witness a historic international matchup that sets the tone for the entire year.
The Full Week 0 Slate and Where to Watch
Don’t think the action stops after the Dublin kickoff. Eight FBS games are featured that day, running alongside a comprehensive FCS schedule nationwide. The broadcast schedule is packed from noon until late night. To view the San Jose State Spartans playing the No. 14 USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 3:00 PM ET, tune into NBC and Peacock, says Yahoo Sports CFB (national). Per CBS Sports College, the only ranked team on the schedule, No. 14 USC, begins its season at home versus San Jose State.
Yahoo Sports CFB (national) mentions a unique Week 0 conference matchup between North Carolina State and Virginia, which was planned as a home-and-home nonconference series before the ACC adopted a nine-game conference schedule. CBS Sports College indicates that five ACC teams will play during Week 0, with NC State and Virginia starting conference play in the league’s new nine-game schedule opener. Although the two teams were initially set to meet in Rio De Janeiro, logistical problems forced the relocation to Virginia’s home stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Viewers have plenty of options to catch every snap. Live Week 0 college football games are confirmed by Yahoo Sports CFB (national) to air on Aug. 29 across ESPN, NBC, Fox, the CBS Sports and ACC networks, and The CW. Fans can stream almost every game on the schedule using fubo. Additional streaming choices for this weekend include DIRECTV, the ESPN app, Disney+, and Peacock. The full schedule includes matchups like Memphis at UNLV at 10 p.m. ET on FOX and Morgan State at North Carolina A&T at 6 p.m. ET on FloSports.
Why This Week 0 Matters for the Season
This is where identities are forged. According to CBS Sports College, Belichick will oversee the Tar Heels’ defense as his son, Steve, remains on medical leave. That detail alone changes the dynamic. The defense has to be perfect because the head coach is learning a new system on the fly. If North Carolina looks shaky, the doubts about Belichick’s ability to adapt to college schemes will start immediately.
Then you have USC. Only No. 14 USC from the Big Ten plays in Week 0, CBS Sports College reports, providing a first 2026 look at Jayden Maiava. Everyone wants to see if the quarterback can handle the pressure of a ranked home opener. If he struggles, the Trojans’ season could spiral fast. If he shines, they become a title contender overnight. The stakes are incredibly high for both programs in this opening window.
The ACC’s new nine-game schedule adds another layer of intensity. NC State and Virginia must treat this like a conference championship. There is no room for error when the conference slate starts this early. The logistics of moving a game from Rio to Charlottesville show how much effort went into making this happen. This Week 0 proves that college football is willing to go global and change its structure to keep fans engaged. It’s bold, it’s risky, and it’s exactly what the sport needs.
What Happens Next
The action continues immediately after the Dublin kickoff. The day features eight FBS games alongside an extensive FCS schedule across the country. Fans need to tune in for the rest of the slate. The first FBS game kicks off at noon ET, when North Carolina faces TCU in Dublin, Ireland. After that, the broadcast schedule rolls through the afternoon and evening with games on ESPN, Fox, and NBC. There is no downtime for fans who want to see how the season unfolds.
