North Carolina's Bill Belichick Gets Backing From Former Big Ten Coach

North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick was an easy target this offseason.

Coming off a 4-8 record in his first season at UNC, it was a trendy talking point to argue that Belichick was out of depth coming to college football, a level he had never coached before taking over the Tar Heels. 

Many in the national media predicted North Carolina would lose to TCU on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland. Some suggested Belichick would part ways with UNC sooner rather than later, expecting 2026 to end in a disaster.

The Tar Heels earned a tough 15-10 win over TCU in Week 0. Belichick took the high road during his postgame news conference, choosing not to rub the win in the face of the press. 

Former Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi wasn't so friendly, calling out the "pundits" for being wrong once again on Belichick.

"I thought Bill Belichick didn’t know anything about football, wasn’t a fit in college, was past his prime and would ruin the Carolina program," Poggi posted on X. 

"After a year of hearing that bull crap , I’m glad to see all the pundits, who are always wrong, keep their record intact."

Belichick earned a much-needed win on Saturday, but it's too early to tell either way if North Carolina can complete a major turnaround in Belichick's Year 2. 

To Belichick's credit, UNC beat a program that embarrassed them 48-14 last year in Chapel Hill. But let's be clear, the Horned Frogs don't look like a team that will finish in the top half of the Big 12 this year. 

North Carolina should start 2-0 when it plays ETSU on Sept. 12. Then we'll find out if the Tar Heels are for real. They'll play Clemson, Notre Dame, Pitt, and Duke in their next four contests before playing Syracuse and Miami before November.

UNC's defense looks good, despite defensive coordinator Steve Belichick being placed on medical leave. 

Special teams and the running game left much to be desired on Saturday. 

As expected, North Carolina has improved in 2025. It remains to be seen if it was improved enough to overcome a tougher schedule.