The 2026 college football season is rapidly approaching and it’s going to be an important one for the North Carolina Tar Heels. They are entering their second season under Bill Belichick and after the disaster that was the 2025 season, UNC needs to rebound in a hurry.

The Tar Heels will have a new-look roster with over 50 new players this season. But it’s on Belichick and his staff to get the most out of them. Facing a very tough schedule, the pressure is on Belichick to win and do so in a hurry.

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As training camp rolls on, USA TODAY Sports listed Belichick as one of 11 coaches who is on the hot seat entering this season:

Belichick hasn’t just been bad for North Carolina. He’s been a national embarrassment. There was his bizarre interview with CBS before he ever coached a game. There’s the persistent drama with Belichick’s 25-year-old girlfriend, aka his “Muse,” who’s waged a crusade against the university. Then, Belichick’s GM got placed on administrative leave. Belichick might be the GOAT in the NFL, but he’s a joke in college football, and it’s hard to justify playing the long game with a 74-year-old coach. Either he wins now, or North Carolina can fork over $10 million to fire him after this season and cut its losses.

Training camp hasn’t been friendly to Belichick either. General manager Michael Lombardi is on paid leave and his son, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, is on medical leave. It’s been an uphill challenge for Belichick and with kickoff just a few weeks away, it feels like the TCU game continues to be bigger and bigger for the program.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football head coach Bill Belichick makes hot seat list