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.
