​Only six weeks remain before the 2026 college football season kicks off. Once again, Dublin will serve as the host for the start of a new season when North Carolina and TCU meet in the Aer Lingus Classic on August 28. That Week 0 matchup along with a handful of Week 1 games are sure to create some buzz. Here is a look at some of what should be the more intriguing matchups.The fact this matchup kicks off the 2026 season shall serve as sufficient reason to tune in. Otherwise, TCU coach Sonny Dykes looked to New England for his new offensive coordinator (Gordon Sammis, UConn) and quarterback (Jaden Craig, Harvard) with the latter arriving following Josh Hoover’s transfer to Indiana. Speaking of New England, Bill Belichick’s second season in Chapel Hill can’t be any worse than last season’s 4-8 mess, can it? Bobby Petrino is the new OC after the Tar Heels averaged a meager 19.3 points per game.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis ACC matchup was originally scheduled to be played in Brazil, of all places. It was moved to Charlottesville and remained a Week 0 matchup. Virginia coach Tony Elliott is coming off a season in which he matched his win total (11) from his first four years leading the Cavaliers. He hit the portal hard a second straight year, including bringing on quarterbacks Beau Pribula (Missouri) and Eli Holstein (Pitt). In Raleigh, Dave Doeren retained QB C.J. Bailey, who has the experience and talent to emerge as a Heisman candidate.It should come as no surprise if Timmy Chang’s Rainbow Warriors win a new-look Mountain West and vie for the Group of Six seat at the playoff table. A win in Palo Alto would be the second against the Cardinal in as many years and would help toward some early-season CFP hype for Chang’s squad. On the other sideline, the Tavita Pritchard era gets underway in Palo Alto where the former Cardinal quarterback faces a brutal early-season schedule.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDeion Sanders took over a direction-less program in Boulder and by his second season the Buffaloes won nine games. Year 3? Well, CU plummeted to 3-9 last season and lost its final five games, three by at least 25 points. The slate was largely wiped clean (once again), including bringing in a new OC (Brennan Marion) and a new DC (Chris Marve). The arrow continues to point up for coach Brent Key at Georgia Tech. However, Haynes King expired his eligibility. How will Alberto Mendoza, Fernando’s brother, fare after transferring from national champ Indiana?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDarian Mensah arrived from Duke to take over for Carson Beck in Coral Gables and will attempt to lead the ‘Canes to national championship contention once again. Mensah has all the tools around him, including his favorite receiver with the Blue Devils, Cooper Barkate, and the teenage Malachi Toney, who very well could be the nation’s most exciting player.The Hoosiers’ offense now belongs to Josh Hoover, who follows Heisman wi