No. 3 Notre Dame visits North Carolina for ACC matchup
No. 3 Notre Dame (4-0) travels to face North Carolina (2-1, 0-1 ACC) on Saturday. The game is scheduled for noon ET at Kenan Memorial Stadium and will air on ESPN. North Carolina is coached by Bill Belichick, while Marcus Freeman leads the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame enters 4-0 and meets its first ACC opponent this season. The game is set for Oct. 3, 2026, at Kenan Memorial Stadium, which holds 50,500, with noon kickoff on ESPN and Notre Dame IMG radio affiliates. The Irish lead the all-time series 21-2.
North Carolina is 2-1 overall and 0-1 in ACC play under second-year coach Bill Belichick (6-9). Marcus Freeman is in his fifth season at Notre Dame with a 47-12 record. Tar Heels defensive tackle Xavier Lewis was tied for the FBS sacks lead after Week 3 (6.0) and alone first in tackles for loss (8.5).
This matchup may draw national attention because of Notre Dame’s ranking and Bill Belichick’s presence at North Carolina. Fans, students, alumni, and local businesses around Chapel Hill could benefit from game-day activity and TV exposure. A Notre Dame win may strengthen its national standing, while a North Carolina upset could reshape perceptions of both programs. The outcome may affect recruiting narratives and conference standings, though single-game effects often fade.