Bill Belichick walked into his first game with North Carolina carrying all the heat that comes with the job, and the Tar Heels answered with a 15-10 win over TCU on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland.
It wasn’t clean, and it definitely wasn’t easy. But for a program that needed a fast start and a coach who has spent the past year under heavy criticism, the result landed as a significant early statement. North Carolina’s defense held up when it had to, and the Tar Heels did just enough on offense to survive a game that swung back and forth all afternoon.
The opening drive gave UNC a glimpse of what the night could become. North Carolina put together a 10-play, 73-yard march and looked organized doing it.
Billy Edwards Jr., a quarterback who drew skepticism all offseason, came out sharp, completing 3-of-5 passes for 64 yards. Two of those throws went to tight end Jelani Thurman for 55 yards.
The drive stalled at the two-yard line, and the Tar Heels settled for a field goal, but the operation looked far more settled than many expected.
Billy Edwards Jr. and company are looking very solid in their first drive of the season.
Jelani Thurman has 4 targets through 5 minutesBilly Edwards Jr. making it a priority
TCU’s ground game answered back immediately. Through the Horned Frogs’ first two possessions, Jeremy Payne and Jon Denman had combined for 67 yards and a touchdown on six carries, a stretch that made clear North Carolina had work to do up front.
North Carolina better stop the run or it’sGonna be a long day
Then came a scare for the Tar Heels. Abou Jaoude was rolled up on during North Carolina’s second defensive drive and left the field for the locker room. He was later listed as questionable to return with a hand injury, but he was back on the field to start the second quarter.
From there, Belichick showed he wasn’t afraid to trust his offense in a key spot. On third-and-13 from TCU’s 33-yard line, North Carolina stayed aggressive instead of settling. Edwards Jr. hit Jordan Shipp for 18 yards, and Jaylen McGill finished the series with a nine-yard touchdown run.
4th & 7 throw to Jordan Shipp which set up the Touchdown pic.twitter.com/D08zi4j81R
North Carolina then grabbed a 12-10 lead after an unusual safety, but the game was still hanging in the balance. The Tar Heels had a chance to build on that edge near midfield when Edwards Jr. found Trech Kekahuna underneath, only for Kekahuna to lose the ball after a hard hit. TCU recovered, and the momentum flipped in an instant.
TCU forces a turnover off a Trech Kekahuna turnover
North Carolina’s defense answered with a huge sequence of its own. Abou Jaoude blew past his blocker and sacked Jaden Craig to force a fumble, and Jaylen Harvey recovered it. Even with the short field, the Tar Heels only managed another field goal, but they extended the lead to 15-10.
Melkart Abou Jaoude is rare in today’s CFB - big sack numbers with a classic 4-3 DE measurables & length. This dude is going to end up being a top-3 RD pick IMHO: https://t.co/lpFvmrz7a2
The defense kept bailing UNC out. TCU continued to find some success moving the ball, and North Carolina’s offense kept leaving chances on the table.
Deep in its own territory, UNC got a strong first-down run from Benjamin Hall, then watched the redshirt junior have the ball punched out. The Horned Frogs recovered at the North Carolina 24-yard line.
Benjamin Hall, junior running back for UNC, lost the ball and TCU recovered it and will have great possession.
But when TCU needed one more push, North Carolina’s defense stood tall again. On fourth-and-1, the Tar Heels stuffed Payne behind the line and kept the lead at 15-10.
What a stand by North Carolina. Their defense is clearly better than what it was a year ago.Making keep stops on TCU. Late third quarter and a dandy in Dublin.
North Carolina then put together a long drive that bled the first three minutes of the fourth quarter and gave the Tar Heels a chance to put the game away. In the red zone on third-and-14, Edwards Jr. had Shipp open down the right sideline for what would have been a touchdown, but he overthrew him. Aeron Burrell then missed the 42-yard field goal wide right, leaving the score unchanged.
Billy Edwards Jr. tried to go for the throat with a deep shot to J. Shipp in the end zone, but it falls incomplete on 3rd & 14 from the TCU 24.
🏈💨The drive stalled out after an initial 12-yard march by Edwards and C. Sadler was derailed by a costly 6-yard sack.
Still 15-10 Tar…
TCU had one last long answer, draining more than seven minutes and getting another fourth-and-short deep in North Carolina territory. Once again, the Tar Heels held firm, forcing a turnover on downs when Craig missed an open Jeremy Scott in the end zone.
North Carolina then helped seal it by getting TCU to jump offside on fourth-and-one, and Belichick’s reaction said plenty.
The most positively expressive that Bill Belichick has ever been. 😂🤣🎥 @TWDTV1 pic.twitter.com/MjOorYqfOd
After so much noise around Belichick over the past year, North Carolina gave him the kind of win that shuts some of it down, at least for a night.
The brilliance. Of Bill.
BELICHICK! #BillisBACK pic.twitter.com/7Mh8xKbZj5
No shock to see North Carolina’s defense limited TCU in the second half. Bill Belichick excellent defensive football mind. Exactly what he did in New England and with the Giants as the DC What a win for the Tar Heels #unc #cfb
Tar Heel Nation will enjoy this win, and hopefully Belichick can lead UNC to a successful 2026 campaign. This is a fantastic start.
For as much as people have made fun of Bill Belichick, that’s a good win for UNC
In Other News...
UNC Just Got A Huge Break In One Key TCU Matchup
North Carolinas season opener in Ireland just got a little easier to game-plan for, as TCU will be without its leading returning receiver, Jordan Dwyer, when the two teams meet to open 2026. Dwyer traveled with the Horned Frogs, but a foot injury has ruled him out of the matchup, removing one of TCUs most established pass-catching options before the first snap.
The Tar Heels are still preparing for a Power Four test in a game with plenty of early-season intrigue, but losing Dwyer changes the complexion of a key part of the matchup. TCU will also be missing defensive lineman Zach Chapman because of injury, leaving both sides to adjust before a game that already carried a bit of added attention on an international stage. [Read more 🡒]
North Carolina Just Caught A Break In Its Week 0 Opener
TCUs preparations for its Week 0 meeting with North Carolina in Dublin took a hit with the news that leading returning receiver Jordan Dwyer will be unavailable because of a foot injury. Dwyer still traveled with the team, but he will be inactive for the game, removing one of the Horned Frogs most established options from an opener that already carries plenty of uncertainty.
For North Carolina, it is at least a small early break in a matchup that will still ask plenty of its defense. Jaden Craig is set for his first FBS start without Dwyer available, which puts more of the burden on the rest of TCUs receiving group to settle in quickly, including Ed Small and Jeremy Scott, as the Horned Frogs try to sort out their offense on an overseas stage. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Just Made A Staff Move That Says Plenty About Its Momentum
Noah Goldmans rise at North Carolina picked up another step this week, with head coach Andrew DiBitetto promoting him to associate head coach of the Tar Heels mens golf program. Goldman arrived in Chapel Hill in 2023 and has quickly become part of a staff that has helped drive both team success and individual progress, a sign that the programs recent momentum is showing up not just in results, but in the way it is building for the future.
Goldman brings a strong background to the role, including previous coaching stops at Oregon State and a collegiate playing career at Mississippi State. For UNC, the move underscores continuity and confidence in what has been working, with Goldman already tied to multiple team titles and player breakthroughs during his time with the program. [Read more 🡒]