The much-hyped Bill Belichick era at North Carolina started with early promise but quickly unraveled, as the Tar Heels were routed 48-14 by TCU in Chapel Hill.
UNC opened with promise, marching 83 yards on the game’s first possession and scoring on an 8-yard run by Caleb Hood, energizing a star-studded crowd that included Tar Heel icons Michael Jordan, Lawrence Taylor, and Roy Williams. But the momentum quickly evaporated. By halftime, TCU had seized control with a 20-7 lead, and the second half turned disastrous for the home team.
The Horned Frogs opened the third quarter with a 75-yard touchdown run from Kevorian Barnes before adding a defensive score when Jonathan Bax sacked UNC quarterback Gio Lopez, forcing a fumble that teammate Devean Deal returned for a 37-yard touchdown. That sequence pushed TCU’s lead to 41-7 and ended Lopez’s night after he took a hard hit.
Belichick turned to veteran Max Johnson, back after a serious leg injury sidelined him in 2024.
Johnson provided a late spark, connecting with his brother, tight end Jake Johnson, for a touchdown. But by then, many fans had already exited Kenan Memorial Stadium.
Instead of a statement win to launch a new chapter, UNC left the field humbled, with Belichick’s debut marking one of the most lopsided opening setbacks in program history.
