With Bill Belichick in the hot seat, analysts clash over whether he can salvage North Carolina's postseason hopes.
There's a world where North Carolina misses out on making a bowl game for the second straight year.
Coming off a heartbreaking loss to Clemson, ESPN's Kyle Bonagura isn't feeling the current state of this program.
In ESPN's latest bowl game projection article, Mark Schlabach penciled in his prediction for Bill Belichick's 2-1 squad, but Bonagura left them off the list completely.
Missing bowl games in 2025 and 2026 would be detrimental to the state of this organization, and that's something Belichick and Co. simply can't let happen.
Schlabach sees UNC in the JLab Birmingham Bowl
It's far from the best bowl game in the world, but at the end of the day, just making one would be a step in the right direction for the Belichick era.
UNC hasn't had it easy since he's taken over, but now they're led by Wisconsin transfer quarterback Billy Edwards Jr.
Should the team need to, they know Miles O'Neill is waiting. The Texas A&M transfer is hungry for his moment, and if things don't go according to plan these next few weeks, that's a move that could make-or-break their season.
In this scenario, Schlabach has UNC going to the JLab Birmingham Bowl, which is played at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Tar Heels' opponent would be Auburn, a team that just gave up nearly 50 points to a now-ranked Florida Gators squad.
Playing an SEC team in the "postseason" would be a big challenge for UNC, but it's one they're more than willing to take, especially looking at their schedule knowing No. 3 Notre Dame awaits North Carolina after its bye week.
Bonagura doesn't see UNC making a bowl game
It's not like going 6-6 in 2024 was the best thing in the world, but that UNC team still made the Wasabi Fenway Bowl where they fell to UConn, 27-14.
They've lost the last five bowl games they've played in, but other than 2025, they consistently were in one until 2018.
The 2019 season was a huge turning point for this program as they went 6-6 in the regular season before taking down Temple, 55-13, in the Military Bowl (presented by Northrop Grumman).
This 2026 season isn't a lost cause, far from it, but Bonagura sees a world where their recent loss to the Tigers starts a downward spiral, and that's not a situation Belichick can afford to be in with him currently on the hot seat.
