What happened: Matt Brown wrote that Bill Belichick would resign if North Carolina falls to 2-7 against UConn. Heather Dinich separately placed the 73-year-old coach on “retirement watch” entering the season.
Why it matters: North Carolina went 4-8 in Belichick’s first college season, putting pressure on the program to show progress. A midseason departure would force a coaching transition before the schedule is complete.
By the numbers: North Carolina finished 2025 at 4-8. PFN rated its offense 85th nationally with a 73.3 impact score and its defense 58th with a 76.8 score.
What to watch: North Carolina opens the 2026 season against TCU in Dublin before the Nov. 7 trip to UConn.