Bill Belichick Bombs In College Football Coaching Debut At North Carolina Fall To TCU, 48-14

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by Ethan GonzalezSeptember 2, 2025, 7:26 pm >

Bill Belichick‘s highly anticipated coaching debut with UNC became a rout as TCU landed a 48-14 victory. Despite the Tar Heels scoring on the opening drive, the Horned Frogs responded with 41 unanswered points and seized the game.

The results marked the worst opening game loss for UNC in decades. The loss was the most allowed by a Belichick-coached team in his 511-game career as an NFL head coach.

Belichick has attracted more attention due to his young girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, than his coaching in his new job.

UNC’s early momentum was cut short. Quarterback Gio Lopez struggled to complete four passes and threw an interception before exiting the game with a back injury. Backup Max Johnson replaced Lopez with less than seven minutes left in the third quarter.

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Johnson’s return after a season-ending leg injury from last year’s opener provided one of the few highlights for UNC. Connecting with his brother, tight end Jake Johnson, Johnson secured a 2-yard touchdown later in the third quarter.

The TCU offense consistently broke through the Tar Heels’ weak defense. TCU running back Kevorian Barnes slashed through Belichick’s defense for a 75-yard touchdown, putting the game out of UNC’s reach.

Belichick signed on in early January after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots. His arrival marked a 70-player roster change at Chapel Hill.

The coaching debut brought national press attention and celebrity presence, including UNC alumni Michael Jordan and former UNC linebacker Lawrence Taylor. The spectacle built high expectations for Belichick’s first college game.

Instead, the game highlighted significant gaps in the team’s execution and discipline. In a postgame press conference, Belichick told reporters that TCU outplayed and outcoached his squad.

“We played competitively, but then couldn’t sustain it,” Belichick said. “Obviously, we have a lot of work to do. We need to do a better job all the way around – coaching, playing, all three phases of the game.”

He provided few details outside of emphasizing the need for corrections, mirroring the atmosphere of his long NFL tenure. The game’s results sparked debate across social media and news outlets.

Despite the loss, Johnson’s return after a near career-ending injury should be noted. For Belichick, the game marked a problematic start to the new chapter in his coaching career.

The Tar Heels have less than a week to address any issues before visiting the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday.