UNC football coach Belichick says program far ahead of 2025

Head coach Bill Belichick expressed confidence in the direction of the North Carolina football program on Friday, July 17, 2026, during the ACC's preseason media days in Charlotte. Entering his second season after a challenging 4-8 debut in 2025, Belichick emphasized significant improvements in team culture, continuity, and talent level compared to a year ago.

Belichick, the former NFL coaching legend hired by UNC in December 2024, described the difference between this year's squad and last year's as "night and day." He pointed to greater stability, noting that the team had just 20 players from the transfer portal this offseason, a sharp decrease from the 70 newcomers, including 40 portal players, he had to integrate last year. Furthermore, 31 of the program's 40 incoming true freshmen enrolled early and participated in spring practice. "Overall as a football team, our culture, our program, our ability to operate as a team is much higher than it was a year ago," Belichick said, "and our talent level is higher."

The coach acknowledged the steep learning curve of his first college season, which involved adapting to a broader set of responsibilities including recruiting, academics,...