North Carolina defeats TCU at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic

North Carolina defeated TCU at Aviva Stadium in Dublin as part of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The UNC defense held the TCU offense to 10 points, marking a significant defensive shift following struggles last season. North Carolina utilized a rotation of eight defensive linemen to contain the perimeter run game, with Xavier Lewis recording seven tackles and two sacks. Offensively, UNC converted four of five defensive fourth-down stops and relied on big plays in the passing game, including 94 yards from Jelani Thurman. Despite the win, the North Carolina offense struggled to maintain momentum after the first quarter, totaling only three points during the remainder of the contest. The team looks to build on this performance as they continue their season schedule.

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