North Carolina walked out of Dublin with a win, and that’s the only part of Saturday that will matter to Bill Belichick’s staff in the long run. The Tar Heels beat TCU 15-10 in their season opener, a sloppy game shaped heavily by the weather, but one they still needed to bank.
The bigger takeaway from North Carolina’s perspective is that the offense already looks nothing like last season’s version. The unit stalled after the opening quarter, sure, but the operation itself was sharper, cleaner and far more functional than it was a year ago.
A lot of that comes down to personnel, and a lot of it also came from Petrino’s philosophies and scheme showing up throughout the game. In normal conditions, this offense likely does much more damage.
Even with the rain, it looked like a group that should be able to hold its own.
Billy Edwards Jr. gave that impression early. The Wisconsin transfer was rolling in the first quarter, completing 6-of-10 passes for 122 yards, before his efficiency dipped over the final three quarters, when he went 10-of-18. Still, he did enough to steer North Carolina through bad conditions and into the win column.
One of his best targets was the former Ohio State tight end, who took advantage of the moment with four catches for 94 yards. Most of that came on the opening drive, but the 6-foot-6, 245-pound Thurman clearly looked like a safety valve for Edwards Jr. His role should keep expanding, especially after Petrino showed a willingness to get him involved on multiple screens.
The veteran wideout was dependable as usual. Shipp finished with five receptions for 71 yards and could have done even more if Edwards Jr. had hit him on an open touchdown in the fourth quarter. He remains one of the Tar Heels’ most reliable players, and that didn’t change in Dublin.
North Carolina’s backfield, though, left more questions than answers. June, who looked throughout the offseason like he might claim a major role and was in the mix for the RB1 job, didn’t touch the ball until the fourth quarter. He finished with 25 yards on six carries, which suggests he may be sitting third on the depth chart behind Benjamin Hall and Jaylen McGill.
Hall had the kind of day he’d like to forget. He ran for 36 yards on 11 carries and lost a fumble.
The Tar Heels were fortunate the defense came through with a fourth-down stop to preserve the lead, because Hall’s ball security and overall production need to improve. The rain and poor field conditions didn’t help, but that’s part of the story for both teams.
Kekahuna also had a modest outing, catching three passes for 38 yards, third-most on the team, but he too put the ball on the ground. After that fumble, his snap count dropped.
CJ Sadler got meaningful snaps late as North Carolina tried to finish the game.
On defense, the run game was a problem. Jeremy Payne ripped off 142 yards on 25 carries, a tough number to swallow for the Tar Heels.
Even so, with defensive coordinator Steve Belichick unavailable, the overall showing can still be viewed as sturdy. There are obvious red flags in the run defense, but the circumstances weren’t exactly friendly for North Carolina’s defense as a whole.
Humphrey, who had been dominant in training camp, didn’t get much going. The Lehigh transfer caught one pass for 11 yards, and the weather probably played a major role in that.
He’s a deep threat, and Saturday simply wasn’t built for that kind of game. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver should have better days ahead.
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 🡒]