The offseason grind is officially over for some, and Week Zero is kicking things off with a bang this Saturday, August 29. Kicking it all off is a huge rematch across the pond: North Carolina vs. TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
Belichick’s Tar Heels Seek Vengeance Against TCU
Bill Belichick is heading into his second year coaching the Tar Heels, and man, does he need to turn things around after a brutal 4-8 campaign in 2025. Remember that 48-14 absolute shellacking TCU handed them in the season opener last year? Yeah, that still stings. UNC basically nuked their quarterback room this offseason. Max Johnson, who played in four games, is gone to Georgia Southern. Gio Lopez, who saw action in 11 games, took off for Wake Forest. Now, it’s Billy Edwards Jr. leading the charge. He bounced from Maryland, playing three seasons there, then transferred to Wisconsin last season but only got in two games due to a knee injury. Can he lead a new offense against the team that crushed them?
TCU, on the other hand, comes in hot. Head Coach Sonny Dykes has put together back-to-back nine-win seasons and three nine-win seasons in his four years. They finished last year 9-4 overall, 5-4 in the Big 12, even after that dominant win over UNC. Their quarterback situation looks fresh too, with Harvard transfer Jaden Craig taking the reins after Josh Hoover left for Indiana. Craig is a pocket passer who absolutely lit it up last season in the FCS, throwing for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions while leading Harvard to a 9-2 record. They’re looking for a strong start, hoping to roll into their October 3rd BYU matchup with a perfect 4-0 record. This game is huge for their momentum, no doubt.
USC’s Wideout Woes and UNLV’s CFP Hopes
Beyond Dublin, Week Zero has more action brewing. No. 14 USC is hitting the field, hosting San Jose State. Lincoln Riley is still chasing that elusive College Football Playoff berth, even after a 9-4 season in their second year in the Big Ten. Jayden Maiava played all 13 games for them last season, putting up big numbers: 3,711 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, plus six rushing touchdowns. The big question for USC has to be who steps up at wide receiver. Makai Lemon, a 20th overall pick by the Eagles, and Ja’Kobi Lane, a third-round pick by the Ravens, are both gone. That’s a ton of production to replace.
Down south, Memphis gets a new look as Charles Huff makes his debut as head coach. He had a 7-5 record with Southern Miss last season, so he’s looking to build on that. They’re heading west to face UNLV, who are not just preseason favorites in the Mountain West, but many analysts are tabbing them to snag that Group of Six College Football Playoff spot. Talk about high expectations!
So, as the Week Zero slate winds down on Saturday, August 29, with Memphis and UNLV capping things off, there’s no shortage of storylines. Every game is a fresh start, a chance to set the tone for the season. For UNC, it’s about erasing past demons. For TCU, it’s about maintaining dominance. For USC, it’s about finding new weapons. Don’t miss a single snap of this college football comeback!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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