Bill Belichick’s move to North Carolina as its head football coach has led to intense speculation and debate. He is beyond an NFL legend and is entering uncharted college football territory.
With the 2025 season staring us in the face, experts like Joel Klatt are offering takes on what could happen for the Tar Heels under Belichick, with both realistic and cautious predictions.
The Unpredictable Gamble: Why Klatt Calls Predicting Belichick’s UNC Debut a ‘Fool’s Errand’
On “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, Klatt pulled no punches when he spoke about Belichick’s first season at North Carolina. It’s tough to predict how the Tar Heels are going to do, Klatt said in his open admission of how hard it is to forecast:
“So, like, trying to predict what’s going to happen with Bill Belichick and North Carolina is a fool’s errand. They could be an eight-win team, they could be a two-win team. I have no idea what to expect from the Tar Heels.”
His doubts surround several concerns, from Belichick’s lack of college coaching experience to the risks involved in an entire roster makeover. Klatt also spoke about the instability of heavy transfer portal reliance:
“I have no idea. I think it’s a huge question. And it’s boom or bust when you go in the transfer portal that heavy. We’ve seen teams succeed like Indiana, and we’ve seen teams fail like Florida State”.
With over 40 transfers joining UNC this offseason, the outcome remains a gamble, amplifying the unpredictability Klatt describes.
From NFL Legend to College Unknown: Belichick’s Transfer Portal Strategy Under Scrutiny
Belichick, an eight-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, brings a professional mindset to Chapel Hill, but his aggressive transfer portal strategy raises questions about his fit in college football.
UNC has signed more than 30 players off the portal, including wide receiver Nathan Leaccock, putting them at ninth in the nation for their transfer class.
Although Klatt concedes Belichick’s ability to evaluate and attribute value towards talent from his days working in the NFL, he is wary about early returns because of the vast difference between the professional and college systems.
The Tar Heels’ roster turnover, nearly 70 players have left North Carolina’s team since last season, a 6-7 finish in Mack Brown’s debut, further complicates the issue. Klatt’s allusion to Indiana’s experience with the portal and Florida State’s underscores the potential risks of such a design.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
As Belichick navigates recruiting, NIL deals, and a lighter ACC schedule, his ability to adapt his storied NFL tactics to this new arena will be tested.
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