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· collected 2026-08-19 · by Aaron Beard The Associated Press
North Carolina's football team, led by coach Bill Belichick, aims to improve its on-field performance after a disappointing 4-8 record in his first year. The team is expected to face significant challenges this season, including a tough schedule that includes five games against top-seven teams in the ACC. Belichick has pointed to the value of his freshmen players, who arrived in time for spring drills and have been working alongside holdovers like receiver Jordan Shipp and defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude. The team is picked to finish 15th in the 17-team ACC race, but will be trying to bounce back from its worst season since 2018, which included five losses by double-digit margins.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
North Carolina's football team is looking to improve their on-field performance under coach Bill Belichick in his second year, after a disappointing debut last season that saw them miss a bowl game for the first time since 2018. The Tar Heels had 6 wins and 10 losses, with some of those losses being by double-digit margins, which has been a major concern for the team. Belichick's salary is $10 million, but despite the high price tag, the team struggled on the field and off, including an investigation into general manager Michael Lombardi that led to his paid administrative leave before preseason camp. This season, Belichick will be working with 40 new first-year freshmen out of a total of 60 new players, which could lead to another chemistry experiment for the coach. The Tar Heels are predicted to finish 15th in the ACC race, and have a tough schedule ahead, including games against top teams like Clemson and Notre Dame.
Written for “North Carolina Football Struggles” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
The score and its own evidence disagree: every quote above points
one way and the number points the other. One of them is wrong.
The confidence has been set to low for that reason.
Leaning score -0.20 for article 1197 (low confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-24
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — 2025 record: 4-8
Expectations
The Tar Heels a year ago bet big on six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick only to fall flat and miss a bowl game for the first time since 2018.
asserted
Heels → bet → 2018
The most pressing requirement is simply showing improvement and getting back to a bowl after tallying more losses by double-digit margins (five) than total wins against a favorable league schedule, results hardly consistent with paying a coach $10 million.
asserted
requirement → show → million
On-field struggles have been compounded by unwanted off-field headlines, including general manager Michael Lombardi being placed on paid administrative leave days before preseason camp.
asserted
Lombardi → compound → camp
After having 70 new players last year, the Tar Heels have 60 this year — including 40 first-year freshmen — to create another chemistry experiment for Belichick.
asserted
Heels → have → Belichick
He has pointed to value from most of the freshmen arriving in time for spring drills, where they join holdovers like receiver Jordan Shipp and defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude.
asserted
they → point → Shipp
The Tar Heels are picked to finish 15th in the 17-team ACC race.
asserted
Heels → pick → race
They’re among a handful of teams staying with an eight-game league schedule as the ACC transitions to a nine-game model.
asserted
ACC → ’re → model
UNC plays five of teams picked to finish in the top seven, including preseason favorite Miami on Halloween.
asserted
UNC → play → Halloween
Strengths include the defensive line
UNC’s defense showed some gains as last year wore on, notably when it came to the pass rush and bringing down quarterbacks.
asserted
it → include → quarterbacks
The Tar Heels ranked tied for 20th in the Bowl Subdivision ranks by averaging 2.67 sacks per game, led by Abou Jaoude (tied for 12th at 10.5).
asserted
Heels → rank → 10.5
Leroy Jackson (36 tackles) is back after starting 11 games as a redshirt freshman along with redshirt senior Isaiah Johnson.
asserted
Jackson → start → Johnson
They’ll need to step up for a team that lost its top three tacklers from last year.
asserted
that → need → year
Weaknesses include offensive questions and overall uncertainty
UNC also brought in veteran coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator, and Petrino has led high-powered attacks before.
asserted
Petrino → include → attacks
But even a modest step would be an improvement for a unit that ranked among the worst in FBS in scoring (118th nationally at 19.3 points) and total offense (129th, 288.8).
asserted
that → rank → points
Belichick is banking that even a retooled roster will have better continuity with more players having gone through spring practices and offseason workouts with the program, offering a bit more stability than last year’s revamp that continued into the summer.
asserted
that → bank → summer
But that means finding standouts will be a process pushing right into the regular season, and even Belichick wasn’t sure how much the Tar Heels would have to live with growing pains.
asserted
Heels → mean → pains
“I don’t know, that’s a great question,” he said.
asserted
he → know → ?
“We’ll see.”
asserted
We → see → ?
New faces
QB Billy Edwards Jr. (transfer from Wisconsin); RB Kaleb Jackson (transfer from LSU); OL Andrew Threatt (transfer from Charleston Southern); DL Jaylen Harvey (transfer from Penn State); DL Vodney Cleveland (four-star freshman who flipped commitment from Texas).
Key losses
LB Khmori House (transferred to Arkansas); LB Andrew Simpson, DB Will Hardy, QB Gio Lopez (transferred to Wake Forest), OL Daniel King.
Biggest games for the Tar Heels
At Clemson (Sept. 19), Vs. Notre Dame (Oct. 3), at Duke (Oct. 17), vs. Miami (Oct. 31), N.C. State (Nov. 28).
___
asserted
who → flip → Miami
