One of college football’s biggest 2025 storylines will be in Chapel Hill. Bill Belichick is making his final preparations for his debut season at North Carolina after a major roster overhaul this offseason. As for how the Tar Heels will fare under the NFL legend, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy predicted it might turn out well. […]
One of college football’s biggest 2025 storylines will be in Chapel Hill. Bill Belichick is making his final preparations for his debut season at North Carolina after a major roster overhaul this offseason.
As for how the Tar Heels will fare under the NFL legend, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy predicted it might turn out well. Based on the schedule, he thinks it’ll be “better than you realize.”
McElroy said the favorable schedule could make for an easier transition to the college game for the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach. While it’s hard to make a true prediction with so much player turnover, McElroy said Belichick could have a “manageable” first year.
“It’s going to be better than you realize,” McElroy said on The Rich Eisen Show. “When you really look at their schedule, it’s kind of amazing because in the media, we’re all looking for that next Coach Prime-type of experience. Something to kind of rally around, to have something that’s polarizing. And then, I’m starting to kind of dive into their personnel – the personnel will tell you nothing. There’s too many new faces, too many new pieces. There’s no telling what they’re going to look like offensively or defensively.
“But then, you look at the schedule, and amongst the Power Four schedules in college football this year, it might be one of the most manageable. And I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m just saying it’s manageable with how it lays out.”
Greg McElroy: UNC could be 10-1 entering final game
North Carolina has a high-profile opener in primetime against TCU on Labor Day before going against Charlotte, Richmond and UCF to close out the non-conference slate into the bye week. That sets up a showdown against Clemson to start ACC play. From there, UNC’s ACC schedule has two teams picked in the Top 10 of the league’s preseason poll – Duke and NC State, which came in at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively.
With that slate in conference play, Greg McElroy said that could set Bill Belichick up for quick success in college football. and potentially put UNC in the College Football Playoff conversation if things go well. McElroy stopped short of predicting that feat, given the personnel question marks.
“They beat TCU, they lose to Clemson, they could be 10-1 before they go on the road to Raleigh to play against the Wolf Pack,” McElroy said. “And we know that if you’re 10-1 or better, 10-2 or better, you’re going to be in the Playoff mix. I’m not suggesting that happens because there’s too many questions about the personnel, but the schedule is really favorable. And if he beats the teams he’s supposed to beat, they might find themselves in like the Top 15 this year – which would be mind-blowing, thinking what he might do in college football.
Category: General Sports
