Six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick is closing in on beginning his first season at North Carolina.
In a move that came as a surprise to many, Belichick took the Tar Heels job as former head coach Mack Brown’s replacement, signing a five-year deal in the offseason.
Belichick’s decision was particularly surprising given he has never coached at the college level before.
ESPN college football insider Heather Dinich appeared on Thursday’s edition of “Get Up” and made it clear that she has no idea what to expect from Belichick’s Tar Heels in 2025.
“North Carolina is the biggest mystery in college football. Even Bill Belichick doesn’t know what he has,” Dinich said. “His players haven’t really put on the pads yet, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines. These guys have to go against each other and hit each other. This is an unheralded roster full of transfers, unproven playmakers at different positions all over the field and an entirely new defense.”
One area that held North Carolina back last season was its abysmal defense, which allowed an 89th-worst 29.6 points per game. Its defense was so bad, it reached the half-century mark against James Madison and still lost, 70-50.
As Belichick gets acclimated to the collegiate level, he will at least have a favorable schedule, something Dinich made note of.
“The biggest thing they have going for them is a manageable schedule. It’s winnable. It’s about 70th in the country in terms of difficulty,” Dinich said. “They don’t leave the state more than three times.”
For a team full of transfers and a lot of unknowns, that certainly does not hurt. While the Tar Heels play six road games in 2025, three of those are against in-state competition when they face Charlotte (Sept. 6), Wake Forest (Nov. 15) and N.C. State (Nov. 29).
Although they begins the season at home against TCU on Sept. 1, the Horned Frogs won four straight games to end the 2024 season and should not be overlooked by North Carolina, providing a solid opening test in Week 1.
What the Tar Teels have going for them, though, is an experienced head coach who knows the game as well as anybody. How his coaching will translate to the collegiate level remains to be seen, but it cannot hurt having someone like Belichick on the sidelines given the success he has achieved in the NFL.
Most of the hype at North Carolina is typically centered around the hardwood, but all eyes are going to be on the football program to see if Belichick can right the ship in Chapel Hill. It might happen, but don’t count on an immediate turnaround after so much roster overhaul.
