Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels

Bill Belichick’s first UNC season wraps up at rival NC State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

There’s generally enough going on when North Carolina and North Carolina State meet on the football field.

Throw in the fact that Bill Belichick will be coaching the Tar Heels and that adds another element for Saturday night’s game in Raleigh, N.C.

NC State (6-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) has reached bowl eligibility, while North Carolina (4-7, 2-5) will end the season with a sub-.500 record.

When Belichick was coach and general manager with the NFL’s New England Patriots, he made visits to NC State’s pro day. He probably won’t be welcomed quite as kindly by fans on this trip, though Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said it’s a good twist.

“It’s great having Coach Belichick in the conference,” Doeren said. “I love coaching and the chess match of the game, and I look forward to the competition.”

NC State will play its final home game of the season. Don’t expect the Wolfpack to hold anything back when it comes to expanding the playbook.

“We have plays ready, and if the opportunity presents itself — whether it’s going for it on fourth down or running something different — we’ll do it,” Doeren said.

Belichick said he expects similar intensity to last week’s game vs. Duke, though the Tar Heels will be on the road this week.

“It’s every play, you can’t afford any plays off against this group,” Belichick said of the Wolfpack. “Or they’re going to get you on it, because they just keep coming at you.”

NC State linebacker Caden Fordham leads all players from power conferences with 118 tackles. He didn’t finish the 2024 season because of a knee injury.

“When players care that much and then get injured, you hope they have a big bounce-back year,” Doeren said. “He has.”

North Carolina is coming off losses to in-state foes Wake Forest and Duke. The Tar Heels committed 12 penalties that cost them 103 yards against the Blue Devils.

“We just have to do a better job of keeping our boys playing football and not doing things after the play,” Belichick said.

Doeren holds an 8-4 record vs. the Tar Heels. The Wolfpack have a four-game winning streak in the series.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the field before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

North Carolina hosts reeling Clemson in Bill Belichick’s ACC opener

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The misery will subside somewhat for either Clemson or North Carolina this weekend.

Two teams that have suffered much-discussed defeats across the first month of the season meet in a Saturday afternoon Atlantic Coast Conference game at Chapel Hill, N.C.

“We’ve got eight games left. We got a long way to go. Why can’t we be the hottest team in America?” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said this week. “… There’s a lot of opportunity ahead for everyone.”

Both teams had last week off, so they’ve had extra time to prepare — or stew — since their most recent setbacks.

Clemson (1-3, 0-2 ACC) is on a two-game skid. North Carolina (2-2, 0-0) has lost both of its games against Power Four conference competition, including two weeks ago at UCF.

Swinney called the season a coaching failure so far, but he hasn’t given up.

“I can fix it,” he said. “I will fix it. We’ve always fixed things in this program.”

Clemson’s status as the ACC preseason favorite was derailed by losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse. The Tigers, who also lost their opener to LSU, were even in the conversation as preseason contenders for the national title.

North Carolina, meanwhile, was looking for a turnaround in legendary coach Bill Belichick’s first go-around on the college level. It has been far from that heading into his first ACC contest.

“We need a win a lot worse than he does,” Swinney said.

Belichick said he has tremendous respect for Swinney and the Clemson program.

“Those guys are tough,” Belichick said. “They love football. … They definitely know what they’re doing. Turnovers have hurt them in a couple of those losses, probably all of them.”

North Carolina’s quarterback situation might be in flux. Gio Lopez exited the last game with an injured right leg, leaving the duties to Max Johnson.

“We’ll see what he’s able to do (in practice),” Belichick said of Lopez.

Whoever starts at QB, they’ll be looking to boost a Tar Heels offense that has managed just 23 points in two games against Power Four teams this season.

Swinney said he’s sticking with the players in the roles they’ve had across the first few games of the season and isn’t making changes to the depth chart. He said the Tigers are in a good position in terms of limited injuries.

Clemson’s Cade Klubnik has been inconsistent, throwing for six touchdowns and four interceptions.

Swinney said the Tar Heels are bound to be looking to make a statement because Clemson has traditionally been a top team.

“People don’t forget that just (because) we’re off to a bad start this year,” he said. “You know you’re going to get everybody’s best shot.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker Mikai Gbayor (4) tackles Charlotte 49ers reciever Jovan Nicholas (5) during the second half at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

UCF takes aim at Bill Belichick’s stingy North Carolina defense

Posted on | by Field Level Media

When North Carolina and UCF meet Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla., it will be a reunion for head coaches Bill Belichick and Scott Frost.

Frost was a player with the New York Jets in the late 1990s. At the time, Belichick was the defensive coordinator.

The two talked about that familiarity with each other earlier this week.

“Yeah, I was with Bill for two years. You know, I can’t say enough about how intelligent he is, and how much football he knows,” said Frost, now the coach coach at UCF. “And that was before he went on a run as a head coach. So a tremendous amount of respect for what he’s accomplished in the game.”

Belichick, best known for being at the helm of the New England Patriots’ dynasty, is in his first year with the Tar Heels and respects Frost’s team.

“I know Scott does a good job down there, but we’ll have to gear up for what they do, and they’ve got a lot of skilled athletes,” Belichick said. “They get the ball in space, and defensively, they got some explosive guys we’re going to have to handle.”

The Knights (2-0) and Tar Heels (2-1) have both won two in a row, and something will have to give in this Big 12-ACC showdown.

Frost, in his second stint with UCF, has won 15 consecutive games as the Knights’ head coach going back to the unbeaten 2017 season.

UCF’s offense is cranking out 491 yards per game and quarterback Tayven Jackson has made strides since taking over for Cam Francher. Francher was injured in the opener against Jacksonville State, and while he’s cleared to practice and play, his status for Saturday has yet to be determined.

The Knights will be up against a North Carolina defense that has been strong lately, allowing nine points in the last two games and holding opponents to a combined 145 yards on the ground.

UNC has held opponents without a touchdown in consecutive games for the first time since 2012 and Mikai Gbayor was named the ACC Linebacker of the Week. He recorded six tackles and a strip sack in a 41-6 win over Richmond. The Missouri transfer and two-year Nebraska letterman has tallied 16 tackles this season.

UCF and UNC were supposed to play in 2018 and 2020, but a hurricane canceled the first game and the pandemic wiped out the second.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Anthony Colandrea (10) is sacked by North Carolina Tar Heels defensive lineman Beau Atkinson (12) during the second half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Just-arrived UNC QB Ryan Browne to re-enter transfer portal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

North Carolina quarterback Ryan Browne announced on Wednesday that he is re-entering the transfer portal before ever playing a game for the Tar Heels.

Multiple outlets also reported that North Carolina’s sack leader, Beau Atkinson, is among a handful of other Tar Heels to enter the portal. Atkinson is expected to visit Georgia and Ohio State, according to On3 Media.

The others included offensive tackle Zach Rice, who played in 21 games in his three seasons with the Tar Heels. He is a former five-star recruit. Defensive back Zion Ferguson and brothers Cade Law and Crews Law, both linebackers, are also in the portal.

Browne transferred to North Carolina in December after two seasons in Purdue. In 2024, he threw for 532 yards and four touchdowns in eight games, including two starts.

New Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick reportedly is interested in luring South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez, who played in 11 of the team’s 13 games as a redshirt freshman. Lopez threw for 2,559 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Jaguars.

Atkinson, an edge, had 7 1/2 sacks last season and 11 in his two years at North Carolina. He also finished with 35 tackles, including 12 tackles for a loss, last season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Connecticut Huskies running back Mel Brown (7) runs the ball against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

UConn snaps ACC curse, beats North Carolina in Fenway Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano threw for two touchdowns and the Huskies’ defense overwhelmed North Carolina for a 27-14 victory in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday in Boston.

Mel Brown ran for 96 yards and the Huskies (9-4) reached the nine-win level for the third time in program history.

It was a miserable day for the Tar Heels (6-7), who are in transition as they await Bill Belichick, who now takes over as head coach. Freddie Kitchens served as interim coach on Saturday following Mack Brown’s departure at the end of the regular season.

North Carolina’s Chris Culliver returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and backup quarterback Michael Merdinger threw for 86 yards. Six of the team’s 10 first downs came in the final 11 minutes.

Fagnano finished 16-for-23 for 151 yards for the Huskies, who were limited to a field goal in the second half after rolling up a 24-7 haltime lead.

North Carolina lost starting quarterback Jacolby Criswell to an apparent shoulder injury on the team’s second offensive series. The Tar Heels, who were without running back Omarion Hampton (going into NFL draft), didn’t pick up a first down until less than 30 seconds remained in the first half, and that was followed by an interception.

UConn’s first points came on Chris Freeman’s 32-yard field goal. Then, with 3:45 left in the quarter, Fagnano connected with Skyler Bell on a 38-yard touchdown.

The Huskies led 10-0 before Culliver’s ensuing kickoff return, the only glitch for UConn in the first quarter.

Fifty seconds into the second quarter, Fagnano hit Alex Honig with a pass for a 4-yard touchdown.

The final first-half touchdown came on running back Cam Edwards’ leap into the end zone to complete a fourth-and-2 snap. That capped a 14-play drive that consumed almost six minutes.

North Carolina, which lost its fifth consecutive bowl outing, was credited with 1 rushing yard in the first half.

The Tar Heels drove 98 yards on eight plays to score on running back Caleb Hood’s 17-yard pass to John Copenhaver with 6:46 left in the game. Hood rushed for a team-high 78 yards.

UConn had gone 0-3 against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, but it had no trouble in snapping that streak against the Tar Heels.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels chancellor Lee Roberts presents a cut off sweatshirt to new head coach Bill Belichick at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Bill Belichick on taking North Carolina job: ‘I didn’t come here to leave’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bill Belichick provided a winning quote on Thursday during his introductory press conference as the new head coach at North Carolina.

When asked if the NFL remains an option should he enjoy immediate success in Chapel Hill, Belichick had a quick response.

“I didn’t come here to leave,” Belichick said with a smile.

His quick wit prompted a round of applause from those in attendance.

The Tar Heels are banking on more wins — those that come on the field — during this tenure with the team.

The six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach signed a five-year contract with North Carolina, a program that has not won a conference title since 1980.

Belichick’s father, Steve Belichick, was an assistant coach at North Carolina from 1953-55.

Belichick will replace Mack Brown, whom North Carolina fired at the end of the regular season. The Tar Heels (6-6) will play in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28 in Boston.

Belichick, 72, parted ways with the New England Patriots following the 2023 season after 24 years with the franchise. He was out of coaching this year despite interviewing for multiple NFL vacancies last offseason, and has been working multiple roles in the media.

Belichick has 333 wins as an NFL coach (including playoffs) and needs 15 more to break the all-time record held by Don Shula. However, according to reports earlier this week, he was surprised not to hear from the NFL teams with existing vacancies.

It will be his first coaching position at the collegiate level. His son, Steve, is the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington and a prominent role for him at UNC was reportedly a part of his father’s pitch to the Tar Heels. Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch was a former assistant for Bill Belichick, who spent significant time around the Washington program over the past year.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tarheels head coach Mack Brown during warmups before a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Myers-Imagn Images

North Carolina hosts NC State in Mack Brown’s home finale

Posted on | by Field Level Media

In most cases, a regular-season finale between two teams with a combined 11 wins wouldn’t be too compelling.

That’s hardly the case on Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C., where North Carolina’s Mack Brown coaches his final home game against rival North Carolina State.

The university announced Tuesday that Brown, 73, will not return next season, despite Brown telling reporters on Monday he planned to be back in 2025.

“While this was not the perfect time and way in which I imagined going out, no time will ever be the perfect time,” Brown said in a statement. “We’ve had the chance to coach and mentor some great young men, and we’ll miss having the opportunity to do that in the future. … We want to send these seniors out right and I hope our fans will show up Saturday to do the same.”

In addition to the emotionally charged atmosphere at Kenan Stadium for the host Tar Heels (6-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), the Wolfpack (5-6, 2-5) desperately need a victory to become bowl eligible.

A loss to North Carolina would mark just the third losing season for the Wolfpack since Dave Doeren took over in 2013. NC State is coming off a 30-29 defeat at Georgia Tech in which the Yellow Jackets regained the lead with 22 seconds left on an 18-yard run by Aaron Philo.

True freshman CJ Bailey has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 1,941 yards and 12 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Bailey has also rushed for 201 yards and five touchdowns.

With three straight wins over the Tar Heels, Doeren knows how significant a fourth would be, especially considering it would send the Wolfpack to a bowl game and end Brown’s tenure on a sour note.

“I’m a little different,” Doeren said. “I guess I don’t treat it as a normal game. … It’s something that matters deeply. Not just to Dave Doeren. It matters a lot to the former players. It matters a lot to the alumni, to the donors, to the administration. It’s not that the other games don’t matter. They do, but this one runs deeper.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2024; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; UNLV Rebels head coach Barry Odom looks on during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Children's Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Take 5: Candidates to replace Mack Brown at UNC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

North Carolina will usher in a new era after announcing Tuesday that head coach Mack Brown will not return next season.

So, where do the Tar Heels turn next as they move on from the winningest coach in program history?

Athletic director Bubba Cunningham got a head start on the process with the Tar Heels, the first program from a power conference to part ways with their head coach this season.

Here are five potential top candidates for an appealing opportunity to take over a quality ACC program:

Matt Campbell, Iowa State
It wouldn’t be a coaching cycle if Campbell’s name wasn’t tied to a vacancy at a prominent program. Still just 44 years old, Campbell is already in his ninth season in Ames, where he has posted a 62-50 record. That includes a 9-2 mark this season. The Ohio native and three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year has rebuffed numerous overtures in the past to move on from Iowa State, but that won’t stop other programs from continuing to knock on his door.

Jamey Chadwell, Liberty
The well-traveled Chadwell has had his name tied to UNC as a potential replacement for Brown for some time. He spent stints at Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina, among other stops, before taking over at Liberty, where he has posted a 21-3 record and led the Flames to a spot in last season’s Fiesta Bowl after going 13-0 in the regular season. The Tennessee native led Coastal Carolina to an 11-0 start and as high as No. 9 in the Associated Press poll in 2020 before a bowl game loss to Liberty, somewhat ironically. Chadwell was named the AP College Coach of the Year following the season — a first for the Sun Belt Conference.

Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State (OC)
Kotelnicki lacks head coaching experience, but the 43-year-old is considered one of the brightest young offensive minds in college football. Before landing at Penn State this year, Kotelnicki served as the offensive coordinator at Buffalo (2015-2020) and Kansas (2021-23). A center for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the Minnesota native began his coaching career as an offensive assistant at Western Illinois in 2004.

Alex Golesh, South Florida
Another highly respected offensive mind, Golesh took over a program that went 1-11 the year before his arrival. The Bulls went 7-6 in his first season and are 6-5 so far this year. Despite being just 40 years old, he would provide UNC with head coaching experience following time as an assistant at Tennessee, Iowa State, UCF and Illinois. Golesh has a fascinating background, having attended Ohio State after being born in Moscow and growing up in Brooklyn before his family moved to Dublin, Ohio. He began his coaching career as a high school defensive line coach in 2003.

Barry Odom, UNLV
Odom, 47, has lifted the Rebels to arguably the best level in program history in just two seasons. UNLV is 9-2 this year with a shot at making the College Football Playoff, and is 18-7 over the past two seasons. Odom, who took over at his alma mater at Missouri following the retirement of Gary Pinkel, got his second crack at a head coaching gig after doing a remarkable job as Arkansas’ defensive coordinator from 2020-22. With his track record, Odom could have his pick of multiple openings as more Power Four vacancies become available over the next several weeks.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Jacolby Criswell (12) dives for a touchdown as Wake Forest Demon Deacons defensive back Zamari Stevenson (17) defends in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Omarion Hampton’ record-setting night carries UNC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton ran for a career-high 244 yards and a touchdown, Power Echols returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown and the Tar Heels made enough big plays to defeat visiting Wake Forest 31-24 on Saturday night at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Jacolby Criswell ran for a touchdown and threw for a score to help North Carolina (6-4, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) to its third consecutive victory.

Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4) has lost back-to-back games, dropping a road game for the first time in four trips this year despite running back Demond Claiborne running for two touchdowns and 95 yards.

Starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier was replaced in the second half by Michael Kern, but the switch didn’t work out as Kern threw two interceptions and lost a fourth-quarter fumble.

Trailing 24-17, Wake Forest force a punt and took the ball over with 5:40 to play. Two plays later, Joshua Harris’ sack of Kern forced a fumble that was recovered by Travis Shaw at the Demon Deacons’ 18. From there, Hampton carried on five consecutive plays, the final one a 6-yard TD run.

Kern hit Taylor Morin for a 16-yard touchdown play with 1:15 left to make it a one-score game but Wake never got the ball back.

Hampton, who had 35 carries, set a team record with eight consecutive games of 100 or more rushing yards.

Criswell threw 15 yards to JJ Jones in the back of the end zone to snap a 10-10 tie with 9:26 left in the third quarter.

Echols’ momentum-shifting play off Kern’s throw extended North Carolina’s lead to 24-10 before the midway mark of the third.

Claiborne ran for TDs in the third quarter from 2 and 7 yards out.

North Carolina, which had been 0-2 in ACC home games, came up empty in the first quarter even though Hampton reached the 100-yard rushing mark. Noah Burnette clanked a 34-yard field-goal attempt off the upright on the Tar Heels’ second drive. Wake Forest scored first on Matthew Dennis’ 33-yard field goal on the next drive.

The Tar Heels have won four consecutive meetings in the series.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown walks off the field after the Tar Heels' game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

North Carolina bids to build steam in clash vs. Florida State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

North Carolina might have discovered a path back to getting some traction for the final month of the regular season.

Florida State’s search for success of any kind remains ongoing.

Those goals will be atop the to-do list when the Tar Heels face the Seminoles on Saturday afternoon in an Atlantic Coast Conference game in Tallahassee, Fla.

“They’re very talented,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown said of Florida State. “They’re going to play well against us. We know that, so it’s on us to come out and play well.”

The Tar Heels (4-4, 1-3) snapped a four-game skid with a 41-14 victory at Virginia last Saturday.

The Seminoles (1-7, 1-6) have lost four consecutive games and no longer even have the quest for bowl qualification as an incentive.

“I challenged players, coaches, everybody involved, our focus this week is to go get it done with the opportunity that is in front of us,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said.

North Carolina’s romp vs. Virginia came with signs that Brown said point toward a strong finishing stretch for his team.

“Played loose, played free, had fun,” Brown said. “Winning is amazing. It solves a whole lot of issues.”

Brown said he sees the Seminoles in a similar light as his Tar Heels. He said both teams haven’t played as well as their skill levels would suggest. He said he fears Florida State will rise much like North Carolina did in the Virginia game.

Norvell said there are signs of improvement in rushing the ball, something that could be a boost to inconsistent quarterback play.

Florida State used quarterbacks Luke Kromenhoek and Brock Glenn in last week’s 36-14 loss at then-No. 6 Miami. Neither player completed more than half of his passes.

There are bound to be chances for a variety of players on the roster.

“Some young guys getting new opportunities,” Norvell said. “Guys that are fighting for more opportunities.”

With Florida State’s quarterback situation possibly in flux, the Tar Heels will be geared up again. They recorded 10 sacks at Virginia.

Brown said Tar Heels quarterback Jacolby Criswell has started to develop a better connection with offensive coaches. His 293 passing yards last week marked his second-highest total of the season.

“If Jacolby keeps doing what he’s doing, we have a chance to do at the end (of the season) what we thought we would,” Brown said.

These teams held national rankings a season ago, but they’re in danger of landing in the ACC basement. There’s plenty in common, including close defeats to Georgia Tech and Duke.

–Field Level Media