The 2025 season for UNC football was a tough pill to swallow. With Bill Belichick stepping in as head coach, expectations were sky-high, but the Tar Heels wrapped up with a disappointing 4-8 record. Wins against Stanford and Syracuse were bright spots, but overall, the offense struggled, hampered by inconsistent line play and shaky quarterback performances.
In a bid to revitalize their offensive game in 2026, UNC has brought in former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino as the offensive coordinator. Petrino's hiring has caught the attention of many, including USA TODAY Sports' Blake Toppmeyer, who highlighted him as one of the standout offseason coordinator hires.
Toppmeyer pointed out a pattern of coaches in tight spots turning to Petrino for a spark. While past attempts with Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and Sam Pittman at Arkansas didn’t pan out, Belichick is now taking a shot.
If things don't improve in Year 2 under Belichick, the financial hit to part ways with him is relatively minor in today’s college football landscape. The challenge is clear: Petrino’s best days were with Lamar Jackson at Louisville, and there’s no Jackson on this roster.
The question remains whether this pairing can turn things around for the Tar Heels’ offense, which struggled mightily last year.
Petrino brings a wealth of experience, having held six head coaching positions across college and the NFL. In 2025, he served as Arkansas's offensive coordinator and interim head coach, leading an offense that, despite not winning an SEC game, ranked 19th nationally in yards per game.
Key players to watch in UNC's 2026 offense include running back Demon June, wide receiver Jordan Shipp, and quarterbacks Billy Edwards and Taron Dickens. With many positions still up for grabs, the hope is that Petrino can inject some much-needed energy and creativity into the Tar Heels' offensive playbook this fall.