North Carolina Opens Dublin Week Against 7.5-Point Favorite TCU as 60 New Players Seek Revenge
Updated
Updated · 247Sports · Aug 24
North Carolina Opens Dublin Week Against 7.5-Point Favorite TCU as 60 New Players Seek Revenge
3 articles · Updated · 247Sports · Aug 24
Summary
Saturday’s Week 0 game at Aviva Stadium will mark North Carolina’s shift from camp to overseas preparation, with the Tar Heels flying to Dublin on Wednesday night before a local practice and Bill Belichick media session.
7.5-point underdog UNC enters Belichick’s first college opener after TCU routed the Tar Heels 48-14 last year, a result returning players say still drives the locker room despite 60 newcomers on the roster.
Billy Edwards Jr. will start at quarterback for North Carolina after winning a close battle with Miles O’Neill; the Wisconsin transfer has nearly 1,000 Power Conference snaps and averaged 261.9 passing yards in 2024 at Maryland.
Jaden Craig will start for TCU in another key change from last season, bringing 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions from Harvard as both teams replace the quarterbacks from last year’s meeting.
Noon ET kickoff on ESPN gives UNC an immediate measuring stick in Belichick’s debut season, with the rematch moving from Chapel Hill to Ireland a year after TCU seized control after UNC’s opening touchdown.