As the countdown to college football season ticks under four months, all eyes are on Chapel Hill, where the Bill Belichick era at North Carolina enters its pivotal second year. After a disappointing 4-8 campaign in 2025, the Tar Heels are looking to bounce back—and early signs from the offseason offer a glimmer of hope.
Belichick's recruiting efforts have been a bright spot, with a high school class that's earning national praise, headlined by standout prospects Travis Burgess and Vodney Cleveland. The transfer portal has also been kind, bringing in playmakers like Taron Dickens and Ade Willie to bolster the skill positions. Spring practice is now in the rearview mirror, bringing us one step closer to kickoff—but where does that leave UNC in the national pecking order?
USA TODAY Sports recently released its post-spring practice re-rank of all 138 FBS teams, and the Tar Heels find themselves at No. 86. That's one spot behind Iowa State, which finished 8-4 last season and declined a bowl invitation after head coach Matt Campbell departed for Penn State. Just ahead of UNC is Delaware, a program that recently jumped from FCS to FBS—and ironically, the Tar Heels landed star defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude from the Blue Hens in the transfer portal.
Looking back at 2025, UNC's schedule was relatively manageable, but the team struggled to capitalize. Their four wins came against a historically bad Charlotte squad, FCS opponent Richmond, and two Power Four programs in Syracuse and Stanford that were also in rebuilding mode. It was a season of missed opportunities, and the pressure is on to turn things around.
The road ahead won't be easy. The 2026 schedule is significantly tougher, starting with an August 29 rematch against TCU in a neutral-site game across the pond. From there, it's a gauntlet: a trip to Clemson on September 19, a home showdown with Notre Dame two weeks later, a Halloween clash with 2026 CFP National Championship finalist Miami (FL), and a November 14 visit from Louisville. The regular season wraps up with a rivalry game against NC State on November 28, plus road trips to UConn (November 7) and Virginia (November 21).
For Tar Heel fans, the message is clear: Belichick's rebuild is still in its early stages, but the pieces are starting to come together. Whether that translates to wins on the field remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure—this fall, Chapel Hill will be watching closely.