By state
North Carolina teams
A basketball state where the football program made the most unexpected hire in the sport's recent history.
Programs
Football in North Carolina
ACC · Chapel Hill, North Carolina · 4-8 in 2025
ACC · Durham, North Carolina · 9-5 in 2025
ACC · Winston-Salem, North Carolina · 9-4 in 2025
ACC · Raleigh, North Carolina · 8-5 in 2025
American · Charlotte, North Carolina · 4-8 in 2025
American · Greenville, North Carolina · 9-4 in 2025
Sun Belt · Boone, North Carolina · 5-8 in 2025
North Carolina
The Belichick experiment
North Carolina hired Bill Belichick in December 2024 as its 35th head coach, after six seasons under Mack Brown. A coach with that NFL record taking a college job was without real precedent, and it drew attention to Chapel Hill that the program had never had.
The first season did not go well: 4-8, no bowl game, and a finish near the bottom of the ACC. The second year carries considerably more pressure, with a full offseason to recruit and reshape the roster and Bobby Petrino brought in to run the offense.
North Carolina
Football in a basketball state
North Carolina is a basketball state first, and Chapel Hill more so than most of it. That shapes the football program's position: it competes for attention and resources in an environment where another sport has the deeper claim.
The state produces solid high school football talent, and the ACC schedule brings in-state rivals regularly — the Victory Bell against Duke among them.
North Carolina
The 2026 season
North Carolina opened 2026 in Dublin, beating TCU 15-10 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, and travels to Clemson in September. Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill remains the home venue.
Leagues
Conferences represented
FAQ
North Carolina football questions
Which college football teams are in North Carolina?
This site covers the North Carolina Tar Heels, based in Chapel Hill and competing in the ACC. Coverage is being expanded program by program.
Who is North Carolina's head coach?
Bill Belichick, in his second season. He was hired in December 2024 as the program's 35th head coach after a long NFL career, succeeding Mack Brown.
How did North Carolina do in Belichick's first season?
The Tar Heels finished 4-8 and missed a bowl game, a disappointing first year that has raised expectations and pressure for 2026.
Where did North Carolina open the 2026 season?
In Dublin, Ireland, beating TCU 15-10 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic — one of a small number of college games played in Europe each year.