On paper, Carolina's defense has taken a big step forward after going from dead-last to the middle of the pack. If they can keep off-ball linebacker Trevin Wallace and safety Nick Scott from costing them huge gains on a regular basis, this will be a very difficult unit to score against.

After quarterback Bryce Young and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan helped the Panthers end a seven-year playoff drought in 2025, their 2026 schedule was officially released. As the defending NFC South champions,

The Panthers’ full 2026 schedule is below: Week 7: Panthers vs. Buccaneers (Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.) Week 8: Panthers at Packers (Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8:15 p.m.) Week 10: Panthers at Saints (Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.)

The Panthers selected Hunter at No. 49 overall and traded up two spots in the second round to take the defensive tackle out of Texas Tech.

The NFL took notice of the Panthers last year. And now national television audiences will get a chance to as well.

With a first-place schedule comes first-place competition. Here's how the Panthers' 2026 opponents rank by their win projections . . .