Bill Belichick’s first season at North Carolina was rough enough on the field, and his personal life kept pulling the spotlight off it anyway. Now the Tar Heels are in Dublin to face TCU in Week 0, and one of the first questions hanging over the trip is whether Jordon Hudson made the journey overseas.
Hudson, Belichick’s girlfriend, has been one of the most talked-about figures around UNC since his arrival. The 25-year-old has been linked closely to Belichick’s life for several years, and the two were first publicly together in 2024, though some reports said she may have been in his orbit before that. During Belichick’s first year in Chapel Hill, she drew attention for her involvement around the program and in his public-facing work, with several offseason reports in 2025 describing her as a major part of his public relations appearances and decision-making.
That made her a constant point of curiosity around Tar Heels football, and it’s no different as the season opens. If Hudson is on the sideline for the opener against the Horned Frogs, it would not exactly be a shock.
Is Jordon Hudson at UNC game today?
This section will be updated
North Carolina is trying to move past a 4-8 season in 2025, Belichick’s first as head coach, and the opener against TCU is the first chance to reset the conversation. For now, though, Hudson’s presence remains one of the biggest side stories around the trip.
UNC’s schedule after the opener includes East Tennessee State on 9/12, Clemson on 9/19, Notre Dame on 10/3, Pittsburgh on 10/10, Duke on 10/17, Syracuse on 10/24, Miami on 10/31, UConn on 11/7, Louisville on 11/14, Virginia on 11/21 and NC State on 11/28.
In Other News...
Jordan Hudsons Cowboys Fight Suddenly Carries A Huge TCU Twist
Jordan Hudsons path through Cowboys camp has turned into one of the more interesting side stories for TCU fans, even if the immediate goal remains the same. The undrafted rookie receiver is still trying to carve out a spot in Dallas, but the odds of landing on the 53-man roster are slim enough that the next stop could be the practice squad or another NFL opportunity elsewhere.
What makes the situation more compelling from a Horned Frogs angle is the legal wrinkle now hanging over his future. A temporary restraining order granted by a Dallas judge could open the door for players who have already played professionally to return to NCAA sports, with a hearing set for September 11, and Hudson has already said he is focused on making the Cowboys but would have to weigh a college return if he gets cut. For TCU, that keeps a familiar name in play a little longer than expected, with the next decision pointing in two very different directions. [Read more 🡒]
North Carolina Just Caught A Break In Its Week 0 Opener
TCUs Week 0 trip to Dublin was already carrying a fair bit of intrigue, and now the opener against North Carolina comes with a little more uncertainty on the Horned Frogs side. The Frogs will be without Jordan Dwyer, their leading returning receiver, after a foot injury leaves him inactive for the game, even though he did travel with the team.
That absence puts more on rookie quarterback Jaden Craig as he makes his FBS debut, especially with a season-opening spotlight and a major nonconference opponent on the other sideline. It also puts more weight on the rest of TCUs receiving group, with Ed Small and Jeremy Scott among the players expected to absorb a bigger share of the work. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichick Is Already Facing Pressure After TCU Warning Sign
Bill Belichicks first season at North Carolina already has the feel of a program under a microscope, and the season opener against TCU in Dublin only sharpened that view. The Tar Heels are trying to settle into a new era while dealing with some off-field turbulence, including general manager Mike Lombardi being placed on administrative leave and defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick going on medical leave.
ESPN analyst Booger McFarland added to the pressure by suggesting Belichick may be running out of time to get the Tar Heels pointed in the right direction, especially with a roster that is still so young and a recent run of struggles hanging over the program. For North Carolina, the warning sign from the TCU trip was not just the result in Ireland, but the sense that the rebuild may already be moving faster than the turnaround. [Read more 🡒]