North Carolina’s 2025: A Year to Forget Across the Board
If you're a Tar Heels fan, 2025 probably can't end soon enough. Across nearly every major sport, North Carolina fell short of expectations - and in some cases, dramatically so. From a blockbuster football hire that fizzled on the field to postseason heartbreak in basketball and baseball, this was a year where the hype far outweighed the results.
Let’s start with football, where the spotlight burned brightest - and harshest.
The Belichick Era Begins with a Thud
When North Carolina hired Bill Belichick, it was nothing short of seismic. A six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach making the leap to the college ranks?
That kind of move doesn’t just shake up Chapel Hill - it sends shockwaves through the entire sport. The school went all-in: $10 million a year, a robust NIL war chest, and even elevating longtime Belichick confidant Mike Lombardi to the highest-paid GM role in college football.
The buzz was off the charts. But once the season kicked off, the results were anything but.
UNC stumbled to a 4-8 finish - their worst record since 2018 - and the losses weren’t close. Half of them came by 20 points or more. The Tar Heels closed the year winless (0-3) against their in-state ACC rivals, a brutal stretch that underscored just how far off the mark this team was.
The fallout was swift. Offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens was let go and replaced by Bobby Petrino, a coach known for his frequent stops and offensive acumen.
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer was also shown the door. As of now, barring a surprise return to the NFL, Belichick is expected back for Year 2.
But there’s no sugarcoating it: Year 1 was a disaster, and the pressure is already mounting in Chapel Hill.
Basketball Missed the Mark, Too
Football wasn’t the only program that failed to live up to expectations. The men’s basketball team - a program with one of the richest traditions in the sport - delivered a season that was, in a word, forgettable.
The Tar Heels dropped a home game to Stanford, were blown out at Clemson by 20, and went 0-3 against Duke. That rivalry sweep stung, especially the final loss in the ACC Tournament semifinal.
In the closing seconds, with a chance to tie the game at the free throw line, Jae-Lyn Withers committed a lane violation that wiped away the attempt. That moment felt emblematic of the season: close, but not quite good enough.
With no Quad 1 wins to their name, UNC’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament raised eyebrows - especially since the selection committee was chaired by their own athletic director, Bubba Cunningham. The Heels managed a win in the First Four, but bowed out in the Round of 64 with a loss to Ole Miss.
For a program that measures itself by Final Fours and banners, this season didn’t come close to the standard.
Baseball and Women’s Hoops Fall Short in the Postseason
The disappointment didn’t stop there.
Scott Forbes’ baseball team entered the postseason with momentum and expectations. They even took Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional. But back-to-back losses to Arizona ended their season prematurely, sending a promising campaign off the rails.
On the women’s basketball side, Courtney Banghart’s squad made a solid run to the Sweet 16 - but the way it ended left a mark. Facing archrival Duke, the Tar Heels managed just 38 points in a lopsided loss that brought their season to a screeching halt.
Looking Ahead
There’s talent in Chapel Hill. There always is.
But 2025 was a reminder that hype doesn’t win games, and big names don’t guarantee big results. From Belichick’s rocky debut to the basketball programs falling short in March, this was a year where expectations ran into reality - and reality won.
As the calendar turns to 2026, the Tar Heels will be looking for a reset across the board. Because after a year like this, there's nowhere to go but up.