How will the Tar Heels play in Year One under Bill Belichick?
Despite hiring 8-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick to be their next head football coach, the North Carolina Tar Heels still need to prove themselves on the football field.
UNC finished its 2024 campaign 6-7, making a bowl game for the sixth-consecutive season, but was overwhelmed by UConn during a 27-14 defeat. North Carolina played virtually all reserves, highlighted by Michael Merdinger – who already entered his name in the transfer portal – playing quarterback.
The Tar Heels will go into their 2025 campaign with an entirely new defensive line, new starting running back, quarterback and plenty other positions. Lucky for UNC, players want to play for Belichick.
North Carolina added the likes of talented South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez, Washington cornerback Thaddeus Dixon and Penn State defensive lineman Vilbert Smith through the transfer portal, each of whom are expected to be key contributors.
Despite the Tar Heels revamping essentially their entire roster, ESPN doesn’t give them a favorable outlook heading into 2025. UNC is predicted to finish its upcoming season with a 6-7 record, just like 2024.
Taking North Carolina’s season a step further, ESPN predicts a 2-3 record in 1-score games. Ironically, the Tar Heels finished 2024 2-3 in 1-score games.
Unlike last year’s home-heavy schedule, UNC will alternate home and away games each week. North Carolina kicks off its 2025 season on Monday, September 1 against TCU at 7:30 p.m. in Chapel Hill, then head to Charlotte on September 6, to face former starting quarterback Conner Harrell.
The Tar host Richmond on Sept. 13, then travel to UCF on Sept. 20. After an off week, UNC gets its greatest test in Clemson on October 4.
North Carolina gets another off week after the Tigers, then travels to California on…
Source link : https://tarheelswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/tarheels/football/2025/05/07/unc-football-2025-college-football-season-espn-predication/83485714007/
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Publish date : 2025-05-07 14:30:00
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