Bill Belichick‘s North Carolina Tar Heels suffered their fourth consecutive defeat against a major conference opponent Saturday, falling 21-18 to California. The loss drops North Carolina to a 2-4 record on the season, raising further questions about the program’s trajectory under the legendary NFL coach.
This latest setback continues a troubling trend for Belichick in his first year leading the Tar Heels. After replacing Mack Brown, who had guided UNC to six consecutive bowl games, Belichick’s team has been unable to secure a victory against a Power Five conference foe. Wins have come only against Charlotte and Richmond.The team’s struggles highlight the challenges of translating success from the professional ranks to the college game, and intensify scrutiny of Belichick’s rebuilding project in Chapel Hill.The game against Cal ended in notably frustrating fashion, with North Carolina fumbling at the 1-yard line while poised to take the lead with 3:48 remaining.Despite a competitive showing, the Tar Heels were unable to overcome crucial mistakes.
“Just keep working on things that we need to do a better job of – third-and-long on defense, third down on offense, ball security, things like that,” Belichick said following the game, emphasizing a return to fundamentals.
Belichick deflected questions about his decision to accept the North Carolina position, stating he had “answered the same question 75 times.” With the team’s current record, a bowl appearance appears increasingly unlikely, marking a significant departure from the recent program history established under Brown. The lack of visible progress is fueling concerns about the long-term outlook for tar Heel football under Belichick’s leadership.
