Notre Dame travels to Chapel Hill on October 3, 2026, to face North Carolina at Kenan Stadium as part of its annual Atlantic Coast Conference schedule. The two programs first met in 1949 and have crossed paths periodically since, with several meetings coming during Notre Dame’s ACC era. The 2026 matchup carries added intrigue as it marks the first time Notre Dame faces North Carolina with Bill Belichick leading the Tar Heels, adding a unique historical wrinkle to the series.

Notre Dame leads the all-time series against North Carolina, 21–2. The most recent meeting came on October 8, 2022, when the Irish defeated the Tar Heels 45–32 in Chapel Hill. That game continued a long-standing trend of success for Notre Dame in the matchup. The 2026 contest adds another chapter to a series that has consistently favored the Irish while introducing a new coaching era on the North Carolina sideline.