It wasn’t easy and it certainly wasn’t pretty, but North Carolina football is 1-0 after a 15-10 victory over TCU. For the first time during the Bill Belichick era, the Tar Heels showed tangible reasons for optimism on the field. I’ve got several takeaways after watching Carolina’s 2026 debut.
Defensive Line is a Major Strength
The Tar Heels’ defensive line improved throughout last season and took another big step forward against TCU. Xavier Lewis stepped up and won ACC defensive lineman of the week after spending last season as a depth option. Lewis delivered with a pair of sacks and looks like the type of player that can be an every down player this season. While undersized, Lewis has the speed and craftiness to get into the backfield and is a worthy pass rusher to pair with Melkart Abou-Jaoude.
Speaking of Abou-Jaoude, the Tar Heels’ best pass rusher last year got started early this season with a strip sack in the third quarter. The play sunk TCU’s offense and allowed Carolina to remain ahead for the rest of the afternoon.
Not to be forgotten, Leroy Jackson proved to be a monster on the interior. With eight total tackles, Jackson got involved in stopping the run and helping round out the offensive line. Additionally, by eating up blocks to create opportunities for the linebackers, Jackson proved to be one of the most valuable players on the field. There’s no doubt in my mind that this defensive line is going to be a problem for opponents and is a real building block for the Tar Heels.
Bill Edwards Jr. will be a Capable Starter
Carolina needed competent quarterback play this year to make new OC Bobby Petrino’s offense work. Billy Edwards Jr. was perfectly competent as a game manager, despite adjusting to adverse weather and learning a new offense. Edwards is a very different QB from last year’s starter, Gio Lopez, as a pocket passing, steady signal caller, which is exactly what Carolina needed. Operating primarily in RPO plays, Edwards looked comfortable making quick, short reads, a hallmark of Petrino’s offense.
While I don’t expect Edwards to become a star, I do believe he can be a star in his role as a game manager. With a bye week and an FCS game at home against East Tennessee State up next, there’s plenty of time for Edwards to build rapport with his receivers and grow more confident before ACC play kicks off. A confident Edwards gives Carolina the steadiness needed to continue to improve offensively.
Jelani Thurman is the Real Deal
Transferring in from Ohio State, Jelani Thurman was one of the best pickups for Carolina this offseason. In my preseason preview show, TarHeel247’s Noah Weiskopf made sure to point out Thurman as one of the top names to watch. Thurman validated that optimism with an impressive four catch, 94 yard debut. Thurman is a big, athletic weapon for Edwards to lean on with the potential to break away for explosive gains, which he demonstrated against the Horned Frogs.
Thurman’s emergence as a real threat is crucial after Carolina was forced to lean solely on receiver Jordan Shipp last season. Shipp is back and remains a reliable first option for Edwards still, while Thurman’s presence now opens up space for Shipp. Defenses can no longer key in on Shipp with Thurman on the field. The next step for the Heels will be finding a quality third option to open up even more space. Receivers Mason Humphrey and Trech Kekahuna are both potential solutions here; building chemistry with Edwards in the East Tennessee State game will be something I’m watching for.
Inconsistent Rushing Attack
My biggest concern for Carolina is the run game. While the run game wasn’t terrible, it’s a key piece of Petrino’s offense and it didn’t look particularly impressive. It appears that Carolina is rolling with a running back by committee approach with Ben Hall taking up roughly half the carries and the other half split between Jaylen McGill and Demon June.
As the lead back, Hall left a lot to be desired. With just 36 yards on 11 carries and a fumble, Hall’s impact was replacement level at best. If he’s going to be the go to power back for the Heels, he’ll have to step up. Meanwhile McGill and June produced better averages with over four yards per carry each and McGill ran in the Tar Heels lone touchdown of the day.
Of course, the running backs don’t receive the full credit or blame in the run game; the offensive line will need to create better push for the backs to maximize the run game. The line was much improved from last year by cutting down on penalties and giving Edwards enough time to throw, but I thought the interior could have given a little more space for the backs to operate from. Like many units though, this group includes multiple new players and should improve as players get adjusted to the scheme.
Linebackers are a Surprising Strength
Entering the year, UNC returned just 4% of its snaps at the linebacker position. For me, this position was a significant concern. However, Carolina eased any pessimism I had with a strong day from the linebackers. Two players in particular, Derek McDonald and Jonathan Agumadu impressed.
Transferring in from Syracuse, McDonald arrived in Chapel Hill as a sixth year player with inconsistent results and an injury history. Despite a season ending hip injury last year, McDonald hit the ground running and led the Tar Heels with 11 total tackles, earning ACC linebacker of the week honors. The key for McDonald was keeping TCU running back Jeremy Payne out of the secondary where he can do damage. As a steady presence in the middle, McDonald looks like the type of player Carolina can depend on.
Agumadu meanwhile showcased his talent in pass coverage. Flying around seemingly every time TCU tried to throw over the middle, Agumadu posted a 72.1 PFF coverage grade, which ranked second on the Tar Heel defense. I’d expect Agumadu to continue to grow into an impact player that Carolina can lean on even as the competition improves.
2026 North Carolina is Vastly Better than the 2025 Tar Heels
It would have been incredibly easy for North Carolina to fold after a disastrous 4-8 campaign. To Belichick’s credit, he learned from the experience, built a much better roster, and gave us a data point for why the Belichick-UNC marriage could be successful. One quality win doesn’t erase everything that happened last season. However, it raises the floor for this season and should give Tar Heel fans reason for optimism.
Looking ahead, Carolina should enter Clemson in week three undefeated. Potentially with momentum and confidence, a trip to Death Valley won’t be easy, but it’s less daunting than it appeared a week ago. For the first time in the Belichick era there’s tangible proof of concept, the off field drama is fading into the background, and Carolina looks like an ascending football team.