The No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0) visit the North Carolina Tar Heels (2-1) on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM ET, and the game airs on ESPN. DraftKings lists the spread at ND -21.5 with a total of 47.5; moneylines are Notre Dame -2800 · North Carolina +1300. Below is our Notre Dame vs North Carolina preview with the latest odds, point spread, moneyline, over/under, kickoff time, TV channel and where to watch, plus a look at each team’s season so far, head coach and key players. Lines may move before kickoff.
Notre Dame vs North Carolina Odds, Spread, Kickoff Time & TV
| Matchup detail | Line / info |
|---|---|
| Matchup | No. 3 Notre Dame at North Carolina |
| Records | Notre Dame 4-0 · North Carolina 2-1 |
| Spread | ND -21.5 |
| Moneyline | Notre Dame -2800 · North Carolina +1300 |
| Total | 47.5 |
| Venue | Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC |
| Date/Time | Saturday, October 3, 2026 · 12:00 PM ET |
| TV / How to Watch | ESPN |
| Head Coaches | Notre Dame: HC Marcus Freeman, OC Mike Denbrock · North Carolina: HC Bill Belichick, OC Bobby Petrino |
Notre Dame Preview: Season So Far, Coach & Key Players
Season so far: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 4-0 overall, and they are ranked No. 3 in this week’s AP Top 25. Results to date: Sep 6 — W 41-13 vs Wisconsin (neutral site); Sep 12 — W 52-0 vs Rice; Sep 19 — W 27-10 vs Michigan State; Sep 26 — W 49-10 at Purdue. Most recently, Notre Dame beat Purdue 49-10 on the road. Through 4 games, Notre Dame is averaging 42.2 points scored and 8.2 points allowed per game.
Head coach: Marcus Freeman (head coach since 2022). Offensive coordinator: Mike Denbrock. Defensive coordinators: Chris Ash / Aaron Henry.
Key players (2026 season stats):
- Passing leader: CJ Carr (QB) — 67/95, 963 yards, 9 TD, 1 INT
- Rushing leader: Aneyas Williams (RB) — 52 carries, 224 yards, 4 TD
- Receiving leader: Micah Gilbert (WR) — 15 receptions, 334 yards, 2 TD
- Sacks leader: Bryce Young (DL) — 3 sacks
- Tackles leader: Drayk Bowen (LB) — 22 total tackles
Strengths: An unbeaten 4-0 start; an offense scoring 42.2 points per game; a defense allowing only 8.2 points per game. Questions: Handling a road trip to Kenan Stadium.
North Carolina Preview: Season So Far, Coach & Key Players
Season so far: The North Carolina Tar Heels are 2-1 overall, 0-1 in ACC play. Results to date: Aug 29 — W 15-10 at TCU (neutral site); Sep 12 — W 35-3 vs East Tennessee State; Sep 19 — L 28-20 at Clemson. Most recently, North Carolina lost to Clemson 28-20 on the road. Through 3 games, North Carolina is averaging 23.3 points scored and 13.7 points allowed per game.
Head coach: Bill Belichick (head coach since 2025). Offensive coordinator: Bobby Petrino. Defensive coordinator: Stephen Belichick.
Key players (2026 season stats):
- Passing leader: Billy Edwards Jr. (QB) — 44/78, 611 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
- Rushing leader: Benjamin Hall (RB) — 33 carries, 215 yards
- Receiving leader: Jelani Thurman (TE) — 11 receptions, 183 yards, 1 TD
- Sacks leader: Xavier Lewis (DL) — 6 sacks
- Tackles leader: Derek McDonald (LB) — 24 total tackles
Strengths: A defense allowing only 13.7 points per game; a pass rush paced by Xavier Lewis (6 sacks). Questions: The response to a 28-20 loss at Clemson.
How to Watch Notre Dame vs North Carolina
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Kickoff: 12:00 PM ET
- Venue: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
- TV / Streaming: ESPN
Odds: DraftKings lines reported via ESPN on September 28, 2026. Lines may move before kickoff. Records, results and season stats via ESPN; coaching staffs per 2026 staff listings. This page is an informational matchup preview only.