The college football season is right around the corner, with the first set of games taking place this weekend. This season offers many interesting storylines, and one of the most polarizing is what is happening with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick is set to begin his second season in Chapel Hill, and the hope is for much more success in year two.
North Carolina went 4-8 last season, and it looked like Belichick struggled to adjust to the college game. Now it appears he is entering a make-or-break season, and one prominent college football analyst thinks Belichick won’t last the season.
Paul Finebaum Calls Out Bill Belichick
College football analyst Paul Finebaum is known for his hot takes and criticism of coaches and teams across the sport.
It now seems he has his sights set on Belichick.
Finebaum said on ESPN, “He’s a grouch, he’s a bully, and his career in college is about to go down in flames…I don’t think Bill Belichick is going to survive until the end of the season.”
“He’s a grouch, he’s a bully, and his career in college is about to go down in flames…I don’t think Bill Belichick is going to survive until the end of the season” – Paul Finebaum pic.twitter.com/FUutmKjsGw
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 25, 2026
Finebaum continued, “He’s one of the worst college football coaches, in a short period of time, I have ever seen and I see no way this is going to be a successful landing on ending for Belichick.”
North Carolina will be one of the most interesting watches to begin the season, as Belichick needs to get off to a fast start.
After the opener, they have a bye, host East Tennessee State, then open ACC play at Clemson (Sept. 19) before a home matchup with Notre Dame (Oct. 3).
While North Carolina is seen as a basketball school, they won’t wait around while their football program goes to waste.
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If Belichick doesn’t improve significantly this season, he could be on his way out.
College football has changed so much over the years with recruiting and the transfer portal that you have to be truly bought in to building the best team possible.
Belichick can pitch these players something no other college coach can: the opportunity to learn from the greatest NFL head coach of all time.
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However, that clearly hasn’t been enough, as North Carolina couldn’t land elite talent in Belichick’s first two years.
The expectations are low for Belichick and North Carolina this season, but he needs to prove the doubters wrong and have a strong season to keep his job.
