North Carolina opens Belichick's second season with 15-10 win over TCU

August 30, 2026 - 04:18

Bill Belichick's second season on the college sideline got off to a far better start than his first. North Carolina held on for a 15-10 victory over TCU on Saturday, a defensive slugfest that showed improvement from a year ago.

Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as an NFL head coach, stumbled to a 4-8 record in his college debut with the Tar Heels last season. That rough first year raised questions about whether his pro-style approach would translate to the college game. But this opener offered a glimpse of what he has been building.

The Tar Heels did not light up the scoreboard, but they did not need to. Their defense kept TCU out of the end zone for most of the game, forcing field goal attempts and getting key stops on third down. The offense managed just enough, with a couple of scoring drives and a safety adding to the total.

It was not pretty, and Belichick likely found plenty to critique on the film. But a win is a win, especially for a program trying to turn things around. The players looked more comfortable in the system, and the sideline seemed calmer than it did during last year's struggles.

North Carolina will take the win and move on, knowing there is still a long season ahead. The schedule does not get easier, and the margin for error remains thin. But for one Saturday, the Tar Heels showed they can win a close game against a solid opponent.

For TCU, it is a missed opportunity. The Horned Frogs had chances but could not finish drives. Their defense played well enough to win, but the offense sputtered at critical moments.

Belichick will not celebrate too long. He knows the real test comes next week. But this result gives his team something to build on, and that is more than they had at this point last year.