Bill Belichick’s first game as a College Coach? … on to Charlotte.
Bill Belichick’s first game as UNC head coach started with a bang—and ended with a thud. After a crisp opening drive that had fans saying “holy smokes,” the Tar Heels unraveled in spectacular fashion. TCU scored 41 unanswered points, including two defensive touchdowns, and exposed every crack in Carolina’s foundation.
UNC quarterback Gio Lopez struggled, then exited with a back injury. Max Johnson, returning from a fractured leg in last year’s opener, looked sharp in relief—but the game was already out of reach
UNC’s defense was a mess. Missed tackles, blown coverages, and zero pressure. It looked more like Belichick’s Patriots from the last few years than anything resembling Matt Patricia’s bend-but-don’t-break schemes. Belichick himself was emotionless on the sideline—no visible adjustments, no spark.
TCU, unranked but still a machine two years removed from a national title appearance, dominated every phase. UNC fumbled, threw a pick-six, and gave up 542 yards. Everything that could go wrong did.
This wasn’t just a loss—it was a statement. TCU is the superior program, and they made sure UNC knew it.
The rematch in Ireland next season? Circle it.