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UNC will kick off its second season under beleaguered head coach Bill Belichick, whose program is looking to make a comeback after a season marred in scandal off the field and a lack of success on it.
When Belichick was hired in December 2024, the six-time Super Bowl–winning head coach came in with plenty of fanfare—as well as a hefty five-year, $50 million contract. He had already faced controversy over his then-24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson, who was also acting as his business partner and had become a presence around the football team—and who made waves during a cringey CBS interview. But hopes were high that Belichick could bring his NFL magic to college football.
Belichick’s debut couldn’t have gone worse, however, when the Tar Heels suffered a 48–14 smackdown by TCU. On the field, things went downhill from there. UNC went 4–8 overall, finding itself toward the bottom of the ACC and without bowl-game eligibility. Off the field, controversies mounted, from questions around Hudson’s continued involvement and behavior, to a disputed trip to Saudi Arabia in search of funding.
This past offseason, the drama appeared to cool. Belichick, with the help of GM Michael Lombardi, put together a top-15 recruiting class for the 2026–27 season. But then, earlier this summer, controversy reared its head again: Lombardi was put on administrative leave as the university investigated a personnel complaint against him. UNC defensive coordinator and Bill’s son Steve Belichick has also been out on indefinite medical leave since early August.
On Saturday, against the same team that blew out the Tar Heels during last year’s season opener, Chapel Bill has a chance to start the season with redemption—or continue his debut campaign’s disappointing trend.
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