Bill Belichick has taken the reins for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Although his name carries weight, can he transform the perpetually mediocre Tar Heels into a winner?
Predicting North Carolina’s 2025 Season
With a moderately challenging schedule, the Tar Heels look like an 8-4 team, with potential to finish the regular season 9-3.
In 2023, the team started 6-2 before losing three of its final five games to finish 8-5. The previous year, UNC raced to a 9-1 start before dropping its last four contests. With only one 10-win season this century, Belichick faces immense pressure to change perceptions.
The program squandered three of the best quarterbacks in school history—Drake Maye, Sam Howell and Mitchell Trubisky.
Since 2013, UNC has earned 10 bowl bids, winning just two.
North Carolina’s 2025 Football Schedule
Monday, September 1 vs. TCU
Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM ET
Belichick’s first big test on the national stage pits him against TCU. Head coach Sonny Dykes will lean on his team’s eighth-ranked passing offense. TCU’s Josh Hoover threw for 304 yards per game in 2024.
Can Belichick devise a plan to counter an Air Raid-style attack?
Saturday, September 6 @ Charlotte
Kickoff Time: tbd
This game should please Charlotte-area alums and donors. With both schools operating under the state education umbrella—Charlotte being part of UNC’s network—expect former UNC quarterback Conner Harrell, who transferred for more playing time, to take the reins.
Saturday, September 13 vs. Richmond
Kickoff Time: tbd
Saturday, September 20 @ UCF
Kickoff Time: tbd
Saturday, September 27 – BYE
First of two off weeks.
Saturday, October 4 vs. Clemson
Kickoff Time: tbd
The toughest game on the schedule, Clemson will test Belichick’s game plan as he looks to slow quarterback Cade Klubnik. Klubnik is 2-0 this season, with 498 yards passing and a 73.1 completion rate. This contest will gauge the new coach’s preparedness.
Saturday, October 11 – BYE
Second of two off weeks.
Thursday, October 16 @ California
Kickoff Time: tbd
While Cal’s offense and special teams have occasionally let head coach Justin Wilcox down, the Bears’ defense has created turnovers. In the last two seasons, they have generated 50 takeaways. Can UNC offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens counter this threat?
Saturday, October 25 vs. Virginia
Kickoff Time: tbd
Friday, October 31 @ Syracuse
With Kyle McCord headed to the NFL, Syracuse coach Fran Brown is turning to LSU transfer Rickie Collins, a lightly used but talented option. Belichick once again faces a spread offense that favors high-scoring shootouts.
Saturday, November 8 vs. Stanford
Kickoff Time: tbd
Saturday, November 15 @ Wake Forest
Kickoff Time: tbd
Saturday, November 22 vs. Duke
Kickoff Time: tbd
In Belichick’s first Victory Bell game, Duke looks to leverage an $8 million, two-year deal that brought in former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah. Mensah’s 65.9 percent accuracy in 2024 could pose an immediate challenge.
Saturday, November 29 @ NC State
Kickoff Time: tbd
Typically the less important rivalry game, this contest becomes crucial after four straight losses. UNC must set things right against an NCSU team led by quarterback C.J. Bailey, who poses a vertical threat.
Expert Picks for North Carolina’s Season
Athlon’s Steve Lassan predicted a 10th-place finish, stating:
“With Bill Belichick taking over, North Carolina might be college football’s most interesting team for the 2025 season. The cupboard isn’t bare for the new staff and a solid transfer haul should help Belichick restock the roster. Replacing the production of running back Omarion Hampton won’t be easy.”
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24/7 Sports’ Brad Crawford agrees, giving the Tarheels seven wins, writing:
“Yes, the schedule is favorable for Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels during his first season. However, he’s going to build this program from the ground up in terms of talent – and there are several matchups that could be difficult for a team – that may not be playing cohesively early on.”
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