North Carolina comes out of its second bye week with the same reality staring it in the face: the next three games could define what kind of season this becomes. Notre Dame is up first on Saturday in Kenan Stadium, and that starts a nine-game run to finish the year.
The biggest question hanging over the Tar Heels right now is at quarterback, and for the moment, Bill Belichick is not making a switch. Billy Edwards will keep the job after drawing plenty of calls from fans for one of the younger quarterbacks during the bye week.
Edwards opened the season well against TCU and East Tennessee State before sliding back against Clemson. His issues have centered on accuracy and how he handles pressure, though he has still moved the ball effectively when he has time.
North Carolina’s job is to protect him better. Edwards’ job is to clean up the misses.
If that doesn’t happen, the staff may have no choice but to look elsewhere for a spark.
There is better news on the defensive side, where the Tar Heels are hoping to get Melkart Abou Jaoude back from injury soon. The edge rusher’s return would be a major lift for a defensive line that was the team’s most impressive unit through the first three games, then got worn down and had trouble generating pressure against Clemson.
Abou Jaoude showed in the opener that he can change that picture, and North Carolina is counting on him to help a defense that is about to face three undefeated teams in a row. The offense can help by keeping that group fresher and avoiding the kind of pace Clemson used so often.
Special teams got a shot in the arm too, with Rece Verhoff now eligible after a ruling in the state of Indiana. That matters because the kicking game has been shaky from the start.
The Tar Heels have missed a field goal in each of their first three games, and Aeron Burrell has not been dependable from beyond 35 yards. Verhoff gives them a kicker who made eleven field goals from 40-plus yards last season, including a 57-yarder against Wake Forest that set a program record.
Nothing is automatic here, especially with kicking being such a rhythm-based job, but North Carolina has to like the outlook more with Verhoff available.
Two units that need a reset this week are the offensive line and the secondary. Both took a beating against Clemson.
The line had some success in the run game, but not on key downs, and it had real problems in pass protection. The secondary’s first major test went badly, with Clemson receivers finding separation over and over and too many tackles being missed.
If you’re picking one group more likely to rebound, the offensive line has the stronger case based on what it showed in the first two games. Still, both have to come back quickly if North Carolina wants a chance in the next three.
And those next three are a bear. Notre Dame comes first, an undefeated top-five team that may be the toughest opponent on the schedule.
Then comes a road trip to an undefeated Pittsburgh team led by Mason Heintschel, who has thrown for six or more touchdowns in two of the first four games. The stretch ends at rival Duke, also undefeated, with Nate Sheppard set to challenge a run defense that has plenty to prove.
If the Tar Heels can steal even one of those games, it would go a long way toward their push to reach bowl eligibility.
In Other News...
Belichick Makes Clear What Matters Now For UNC Football
Bill Belichick said the North Carolina football programs focus right now is less about the noise around it and more about getting the operation where it needs to be. With the Tar Heels navigating investigations and personnel changes, he framed the moment as one centered on doing things the right way and addressing the areas flagged by outside counsel.
Belichick also made clear how limited his role has been in the process, saying he was only involved in answering some questions while the legal details were handled by lawyers. For North Carolina, the message was less about the headlines themselves than the work still ahead, and what the program chooses to do next in response to them. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Is Giving Tar Heel Legends A Permanent Place In Kenan
Kenan Stadium is about to get a little more reflective, with North Carolina set to unveil two permanent Hall of Fame displays during the game against Notre Dame. The new honors will recognize 12 Tar Heel legends who made their mark in the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, giving UNC a more permanent way to showcase some of the biggest names in program history.
The College Football Hall of Fame display will go in the northeast corner of the stadium, while the Pro Football Hall of Famers will be featured in the southeast corner. UNC has also invited the Hall of Famers and their families for a weekend celebration that will include on-field recognition and a formal dedication during the game, turning what is already a marquee matchup into a chance to connect the current program with the standard set by its greats. [Read more 🡒]
Former Tar Heels Reunite On A Sideline UNC Fans Will Want To Follow
A familiar Carolina connection is making its way back onto a sideline worth watching. King Rice, now the head coach at Monmouth, has hired Shammond Williams as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 season and beyond, bringing together two former Tar Heels whose paths have now crossed again in the coaching ranks.
Williams arrives with a long rsum that should make him an intriguing addition anywhere, including more than 20 years of professional playing experience and 13 years in college coaching. His recent stops include Denver and Old Dominion, and Rice has made no secret of his excitement about adding a former teammate to the staff, a reunion UNC fans will naturally keep an eye on even from a distance. [Read more 🡒]