First look: What to know about Bill Belichick’s coaching debut against TCU
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bill Belichick debuts Sept. 1 as UNC hosts TCU in a high-profile matchup.
- Gio Lopez likely starts at quarterback amid ongoing Tar Heels depth chart battle.
- TCU enters as 3.5-point favorite; Josh Hoover leads offense with key returning talent.
On Labor Day, it will finally be on to TCU.
Bill Belichick will make his highly-anticipated debut against the Horned Frogs. Finally, fans will get a glimpse into what has been the biggest mystery of this college football offseason when North Carolina hosts Texas Christian for an 8 p.m. kickoff on Monday, Sept. 1 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.
Belichick has been open about some of the adjustments he’s made to coaching the college game. One main difference? Less time for preseason evaluation of a roster featuring 70 new players — 30 freshmen and 40 from the transfer portal.
“You have the three preseason games in the NFL and a couple scrimmages, and sometimes that will start to declare a little bit quicker,” Belichick said in a press conference Aug. 20. “Here, we’ll see how they play when they actually play in games… we’ll just see how that works out.”
UNC boasts the historical advantage over TCU — a 3-0 all-time record — but much has changed for both programs since their last matchup in 1997. The Horned Frogs made it to the national championship game in 2022-23, followed that with a losing season and appeared steady with a 9-4 record in 2024.
That provides North Carolina with a formidable opponent for what is essentially the team’s first live action set.
“I think there’s, especially for us, a little bit more of an unknown,” Belichick said in a press conference on Aug. 2., ahead of North Carolina’s first training camp practice, “because even the guys that were here, they weren’t here with us. How exactly they’ll react in game situations and under pressure, how quickly and easily we’ll be able to adjust… all that we’re gonna have to find out that on the run.”
Labor Day will also be the first look at UNC’s new “Chapel Thrill Game Day” experience, with former player and country musician Chase Rice being the first of many pregame performers slated for the Tar Heels’ home contests.
Quarterback battle: Gio Lopez or Max Johnson?
North Carolina’s quarterback battle is one of, if not the, biggest question mark entering the Labor Day matchup. When Belichick was asked on Aug. 20 how close he was to naming a starting quarterback, he responded with sarcasm.
“Yeah, we’re getting ready to do that this afternoon — announce the starting lineups and the play times and how we’d be substituting everything… we want to make sure we get that out there right away,” Belichick said with a grin.
Signs point to redshirt sophomore Gio Lopez, a transfer from South Alabama, getting the starting nod. He committed to UNC in the spring portal window and signed, according to ESPN, a two-year $4 million contract. That’s a lot of money to sit on the bench.
Veteran Max Johnson, who overcame a gruesome leg injury suffered in the 2024 season-opener at Minnesota, is the other potential starter for the Tar Heels.
As for TCU, the offense will run through returning starter Josh Hoover — one of the Big 12’s top quarterbacks. He earned a 84.3 PFF passing grade and is especially effective when targeting the middle third of the field and against zone coverage. Hoover isn’t much of a runner, and the Tar Heels could also exploit his lack of awareness, at times, in the pocket.
TCU impact players: McAlister and Clark
Wide receiver Erin McAlister has elevated his game at TCU after shining at Boise State in 2023. Last season he posted an 84.1 PFF receiving grade — third-best in the Big 12. McAlister finished second in the league in yards per route (2.89) and average yards after catch (8.9). He will no doubt be Hoover’s primary target.
On the other side of the ball, Bud Clark led all college safeties last season with a 90.1 PFF coverage grade while allowing just a 42.8 passer rating on throws his way. He picked off three passes and missed less than 8% of his tackles, per PFF.
Clark is reliable and has improved his ball skills, making him a key feature of TCU’s defense. The Horned Frogs also had notable portal pickups in defensive lineman Ansel Din-Mbuh, and cornerback Elijah Jackson — who played for UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick at the University of Washington.
Vegas betting line
TCU is a 3.5-point favorite over North Carolina, with the over/under set at 58.5 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The Horned Frogs are -160 on the moneyline. The Tar Heels are listed at +135.
UNC v. TCU game info
Teams: TCU Horned Frogs (0-0, Big 12) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (0-0, ACC)
Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Date: Monday, Sept. 1
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream: fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV Stream, Sling TV
Series history: North Carolina leads the series, 3-0. The teams last met in 1997.
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NOTE: Caroline Wills contributed reporting
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 5:30 AM.