UNC Football 2025: Tar Heels’ Rising Momentum, Key Highlights & What’s Next

Chapel Hill, N.C. — UNC football’s once-heady Bill Belichick experiment is teetering just as the Tar Heels begin a critical two-game ACC road swing, starting tonight at California. Practices described as “combative” and “chaotic” On Wednesday, multiple outlets detailed a fractured locker room in which veterans have openly questioned Belichick’s hard-line approach, while newcomers recruited via the transfer portal complain of “mixed messaging” about their roles. General manager Michael Lombardi’s roster moves have come under fire after an exploratory fundraising trip to Saudi Arabia surfaced in leaked emails. Belichick pushes back on buyout chatter Rumors that the 73-year-old coach could be bought out of the remaining two years of his $10 million-per-season deal were “laughable,” Belichick told reporters Monday, stressing he is “fully committed” to turning UNC around. Nonetheless, industry sources say boosters have quietly gauged interest from rising coordinators if the slide continues. Why the Cal matchup matters At 3-3 overall and 1-2 in ACC play, the Tar Heels must beat a rebuilding Golden Bears squad to keep faint conference-title hopes alive. Quarterback Drake Maye faces a defense surrendering 279 passing yards per game, but UNC’s own secondary has allowed eight TDs in its last two outings. A prime-time kickoff at 10:30 p.m. ET provides a national showcase—and potentially a boiling point. Key storylines fans are searching for • Will Belichick’s NFL-style discipline finally resonate? • Can Maye reignite an offense averaging just 22.4 points since Week 2? • How will UNC counter Cal’s uptempo attack without suspended LB Cedric Gray, reportedly benched after a practice-field altercation? What’s next UNC returns east to visit Georgia Tech on Oct. 25 before a bye week that could determine whether Belichick steers the program forward—or whether boosters accelerate an exit plan. Either way, Tar Heel Nation will be watching for signs of unity in Berkeley tonight, knowing another stumble could signal a full-blown reset in Chapel Hill.