North Carolina doesn’t have the luxury of easing into this season. After an unacceptable 2025 campaign, the Tar Heels need a fast response, and Bill Belichick is treating the opener against TCU like the only game that matters right now.
That’s the right mindset for a team still trying to sort itself out. UNC brought in plenty of new pieces this offseason, from offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino to a totally overhauled quarterback room. The Tar Heels also added more help at receiver and more bodies on defense, but all of that change means the early part of the season is going to be messy before it gets clean.
That’s why the first two weeks matter so much. TCU on Saturday and East Tennessee State after that will tell North Carolina a lot about where it stands before ACC play begins. Those games should help the staff figure out what works, what doesn’t, and where the biggest problems are on both sides of the ball.
The Tar Heels also need to look sharp enough in those first two outings to build some confidence. The defense is not the main concern here, even though defensive coordinator Steve Belichick could miss the opener because he is still on medical leave. The bigger question is the offense, where the new faces and the uncertainty at quarterback make for a lot of moving parts.
For now, the message has to stay simple: one week at a time. North Carolina can’t afford to get lost in the bigger picture.
The focus has to be on TCU, on Saturday, and on starting the season on the right foot. Winning the day in practice, team meetings, and film sessions is what has to come first if this season is going to mean anything.
In Other News...
UNC Quarterback Battle Is Raising Awkward Questions About Michael Lombardi
Bill Belichick used his coach show to address the quarterback competition, and the picture he painted was already telling. Miles ONeill and Billy Edwards were named as the primary contenders to open the season, while Travis Burgess was singled out for his progress, a sign that the depth chart is starting to take shape as UNC sorts out the most important position on the field.
What stood out just as much was who was not part of the conversation. AuTori Newkirk, a quarterback recruited by GM Michael Lombardi, was not mentioned and has slipped to fourth string behind the newer additions, a development that only adds to the scrutiny around Lombardis evaluation of the position. With Gio Lopez and Ryan Browne also part of the broader quarterback picture, the issue has become less about sheer numbers and more about whether UNCs decision-making at the spot has helped or hurt the program. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Heads Into Opener With A Staff Uncertainty It Can't Ignore
North Carolina enters the final stretch before its opener with an unusual bit of uncertainty hanging over the staff. Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick has been on medical leave since early training camp and has now been away from the team for nearly a month, leaving the Tar Heels to keep moving forward without one of the key voices on that side of the ball.
Bill Belichick said there has been no change in Steve Belichicks status, which makes his availability for the TCU game unclear at best. The timing is less than ideal for a team already dealing with another off-field complication, with general manager Michael Lombardi also on paid administrative leave as North Carolina tries to settle in before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Defense Has One Chance To Answer Last Year's TCU Humbling
Last seasons Week 1 loss to TCU still hangs over North Carolinas defense, and the rematch in Ireland gives the Tar Heels a chance to answer for it. One of the more intriguing names in that equation is safety Peyton Waters, who played only limited snaps a year ago but now looks positioned for a much bigger role as the No. 2 strong safety behind Greg Smith.
For UNC, this is more than just an early-season test on a big stage. The Tar Heels have reportedly carried the memory of that defeat through their preparation, and the defense in particular has plenty to prove after the way TCU exposed them last time around. Waters expanded role adds another layer of interest, because Carolina will need more reliable play from the back end if it wants this rematch to look different. [Read more 🡒]