College football is back. To kick off the season in Dublin, fans are being treated to a power conference matchup between UNC, led by legendary head coach Bill Belichick, and the TCU Horned Frogs.
Early on, Belichick made some questionable decisions that caught the eye of the college football world.
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Belichick has eight Super Bowl rings and is one of the most successful coaches of all time. That’s not going to stop people from questioning decisions that don’t work out for him.
He chose to kick a field goal after UNC’s opening drive stalled inside the TCU 2-yard line. Later in the quarter, on a separate possession, he opted to go for it on 4th-and-7 from the TCU 33, a decision that paid off, setting up Jaylen McGill’s tying touchdown.
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The range and consistency of college kickers aren’t near NFL quality for most squads, and likely contributed to his decisions. But fans still grilled him for taking points near the goal line rather than when UNC was farther from the end zone.
“Did Belichick just kick on 4th and goal from the 2? Boooooo,” said one fan.
Did Belichick just kick on 4th and goal from the 2?
Boooooo
— Drew Balis (@drewBbalis) August 29, 2026
“Belichick still stuck in 2003 where he doesn’t even think of going for 4th and goal at the 2 and kicks a [expletive] 20 yard field goal. Dude will never catch up with the times. 1st game of the season, you’re an underdog, send a (expletive) statement to your team and be aggressive,” added another fan.
Going for it on fourth downs has often become a more recent trend, although Belichick wasn’t always the most conservative coach in his prime. His prime years are likely over, and fans are calling him washed.
“Bill Belichick kicking from the 2-yard line on the opening drive of the season when being underdogs by 7.5 points. This man is soooo washed,” said one fan.
Bill Belichick kicking from the 2 yard line on the opening drive of the season when being underdogs by 7.5 points😭
This man is soooo washed
— Burch (@braden_burcham_) August 29, 2026
The Tar Heels and Horned Frogs squared off last season for the opening game of their seasons as well. North Carolina scored on its opening drive in both games, but Belichick’s team was dismantled last season and will hope for a different outcome today.
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“Just like last season, North Carolina goes right down the field and scores points on their first drive. Let’s see if the rest of the game goes differentl than last year’s opener for UNC and Bill Belichick,” said one Boston reporter.
Just like last season, North Carolina goes right down the field and scores points on their first drive
Let’s see if the rest of the game goes different than last year’s opener for UNC and Bill Belichick
— Brian Ferzoco (@FerzocoBrian) August 29, 2026
Another fan chimed in, “Bill Belichick is Notorious on season-opening drives lol.”
Belichick needs to have a better season in his second year with the Tar Heels.
After being paid handsomely to coach at the college level, he needs to prove he’s worth the money. His pedigree will buy him plenty of grace, but results need to show, or his second year could be the end of his tenure in North Carolina.
