This wasn’t how the Bill Belichick debut was supposed to unfold.
Not with all the hype after the legendary Patriots coach arrived at North Carolina.
Not after the Tar Heels became the buzz of the 2025 college football season, inheriting all of the spotlight and attention that Belichick brought with him.
Not after they completely remade their roster through the transfer portal.
But instead of making a season-opening statement in front of a celebrity-filled crowd, the Tar Heels were embarrassed on national television, falling to TCU, 48 -14.
It wasn’t particularly close from the start, either.
The Tar Heels opened with a drive that ended when Caleb Hood scored from eight yards out, but the Horned Frogs responded with 41 unanswered points to build an insurmountable lead.
Wins will certainly follow for this UNC team — starting with next weekend, when they face Charlotte.
But instead of a celebratory night, that included Michael Jordan, that ushered in the next era of North Carolina football, North Carolina ended up making a quarterback change and watching as everything about the debut of Belichick went awry.