Bill Belichick’s first year at UNC draws brutal projection

The University of North Carolina probably wasn't thrilled with the off-field drama surrounding Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson — but so far, things appear to be going well pertaining to on-the-field.

For now.

According to WRAL’s Brian Murphy, the "Belichick effect” is already taking hold in Chapel Hill. UNC has sold out its 20,000-ticket allotment for the upcoming football season, despite raising prices by an average of 25%.

"The most significant uptick we've ever had," UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said.

MORE: NFL insider says UNC’s Bill Belichick may have ended Jordon Hudson drama with one smart move

It’s no surprise there’s buzz. The Tar Heels have landed arguably the greatest head coach in NFL history, now taking on his first-ever college job. Belichick’s presence alone has energized the fan base, but also raised plenty of questions.

“There have been all sorts of outside-the-box coaching experiments in recent years, but this one — strictly from a football standpoint — might be the most interesting,” ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura wrote. “His arrival in Chapel Hill comes with so many questions. Can he relate to college-aged players? Does his style translate to the college level? How long will he stay? But they really all boil down to one: Will he win?”

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ESPN’s 2025 bold predictions suggest the answer may be no — projecting Belichick as a one-and-done coach in college football.

“The Heels are in the midst of a massive makeover in Year 1 under Belichick, who has never coached in college and is already dealing with his share of off-field spectacle,” ESPN wrote. “Is a 3-9 type of season possible? It certainly won't be a good look if that's where the Tar Heels land.”

UNC hasn’t suffered a three-win season since 2018, when it went 2-9 under Larry Fedora. The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel added that the university may already be embarrassed by Belichick’s relationship with Hudson and the media firestorm surrounding it.

“I can only imagine the narrative if UNC starts 2-4,” Mandel said.

The Tar Heels finished 6-7 in Mack Brown’s final season. Considering the rebuilding effort now underway, simply reaching bowl eligibility would be a major success for Belichick in Year 1. The bigger question may be what comes after that — and whether there’s even a Year 2.