Press

TG4 to Broadcast 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic Live from the Aviva Stadium

Texas Christian University and the University of North Carolina to meet in Dublin on Saturday 29 August 2026 - Live on TG4

21.07.26

TG4 is delighted to announce that the channel will broadcast the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic live from the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 29 August.
 
Texas Christian University, known as the TCU Horned Frogs, will face the University of North Carolina Tar Heels in one of the most anticipated sporting events taking place in Ireland this year.
 
A major draw for Irish and international audiences will be the presence of Bill Belichick, Head Coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Widely regarded as one of the greatest American football coaches of all time, Belichick holds numerous coaching records, including six Super Bowl victories as head coach of the New England Patriots, along with two more during his time as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
 
There will also be strong Irish interest in the fixture, with Newry native Adam McGann Gibbs set to make his US college football debut on home soil during the game at the Aviva Stadium.
 
This will be the second time TG4 has broadcast the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, following the channel’s acclaimed coverage of the 2024 fixture between Georgia Tech and Florida State University. That broadcast, produced by Iris Productions, was later nominated in the Live Sports category at the RTS Ireland Awards.
 
The 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic will again be produced by Iris Productions, the award-winning television production company based in the Conamara Gaeltacht.
 
The 2026 fixture marks the fifth consecutive year that the Aer Lingus College Football Classic will serve as a Week 0 game in Ireland, further strengthening Dublin’s reputation as the European home of college football. The game will bring the colour, pageantry and excitement of American college football to Irish audiences, as well as welcoming travelling supporters from across the United States.
 
TCU arrive in Dublin as one of the most recognisable programmes in college football, with the Horned Frogs having enjoyed major success in recent seasons. UNC, one of the most famous names in US college sport, will bring a rich sporting tradition to the Aviva Stadium, with the Tar Heels known around the world for their famous Carolina Blue colours, a celebrated list of sporting alumni and two major storylines for Irish audiences in Belichick’s arrival and McGann Gibbs’ home-soil debut.
 
TG4 Head of Sport Rónán Ó Coisdealbha said: “TG4 is delighted to bring the Aer Lingus College Football Classic back to a free-to-air television audience in Ireland. Our 2024 coverage was a landmark broadcast and we are very proud that TG4 and Iris Productions were recognised with a nomination at the RTS Ireland Awards. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic is a truly unique sporting occasion, full of colour, atmosphere and excitement, and we look forward to showcasing TCU and UNC live from the Aviva Stadium this August.”
 
Aer Lingus College Football Classic Co-Founder Padraic O’Kane said: “We are delighted to welcome TG4 back as the free-to-air broadcast partner for the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The matchup between TCU and North Carolina promises to be another unforgettable occasion, with the added excitement of Bill Belichick’s first game in Ireland as UNC Head Coach and the opportunity for Irish fans to see Adam McGann Gibbs make his college football debut on home soil. Through TG4’s live coverage, fans across Ireland will be able to experience the atmosphere, tradition and spectacle that make college football such a special event whilst helping to grow the game of American Football in Ireland.”
 
TG4 is also pleased to confirm that Aer Lingus will sponsor the channel’s live broadcast of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
 

TG4 Broadcast details:
2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic
Texas Christian University v University of North Carolina
Live from Aviva Stadium
Saturday, 29 August 2026
Time: 16:40

 
Tickets for the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic are on sale now from ticketmaster.ie/collegefootball.
 
For further information and official updates, visit collegefootballireland.com.