After a disappointing first year in Chapel Hill, Belichick led UNC to a 15-10 victory over TCU in Week 0 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The win not only avenged last year’s loss but also gave the Tar Heels an important early boost heading into Year 2.
Three-time national champion head coach Urban Meyer, however, admitted he was ready to pile on if Belichick’s team suffered another loss.
Urban Meyer Had Doubts About Bill Belichick’s UNC
Belichick’s first season in college football didn’t go according to plan. The six-time Super Bowl champion finished 2025 with a 4-8 record, including a 2-6 mark in conference play.
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The Tar Heels also suffered a brutal 48-14 home loss to TCU to open last season, making Saturday’s rematch an important opportunity for Belichick and his program.
Meyer knows how difficult it can be to take over a major college program. During his coaching career, he rebuilt programs at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, and Ohio State, and he believes that early momentum can be critical when establishing a new culture.
“I took over four different college programs, and you always look for that momentum win. It avoided them last year. They had zero momentum wins last year. They had a lot of momentum losses. Steve Belichick, the D coordinator, is on medical leave. (Michael) Lombardi, the general manager, is also on leave. But Belichick, you know the respect I have for that guy. At some point, he’s going to get it right,” Meyer said on ”The Triple Option” Podcast.
Meyer then explained just how much the TCU game could have changed the conversation around Belichick had UNC come up short again. “The only reason I’m all over. I mean, I would have buried him if they would have lost.” he added.
UNC didn’t overwhelm TCU offensively, but the Tar Heels made enough plays defensively to secure a 15-10 win in difficult conditions. More importantly, they avoided another early setback against the same opponent that handed them one of their worst losses last season.
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Belichick still has plenty to prove in Chapel Hill, but starting Year 2 with a revenge win gives his program something it desperately lacked a year ago: a reason to believe.
For Meyer, that’s exactly the type of result that can help change the direction of a struggling program.
