On Labor Day in Chapel Hill, Bill Belichick’s first college game started fast but turned rocky as TCU surged to a 20-7 halftime lead at Kenan Stadium. North Carolina struck first, then the Horned Frogs rattled off 20 unanswered, punctuated by safety Bud Clark’s 25-yard interception return late in the second quarter.
Key Takeaways
- Halftime: TCU 20, North Carolina 7 — 20 unanswered Horned Frogs points after UNC’s opening-drive TD.
- Bud Clark flipped momentum with a 25-yard pick-six at 3:57 of Q2; flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after high-stepping.
- UNC’s opener: 83 yards in 7 plays, capped by Caleb Hood’s 8-yard TD; Gio Lopez hit Jordan Shipp for gains of 39 and 19 on the march.
- TCU response: Josh Hoover to Jordan Dwyer for a 27-yard TD to tie it 7-7; Dwyer logged six first-half catches for 81 yards and a score.
- Kyle Lemmermann’s 32-yard field goal (11:13, Q2) finished a 14-play, 55-yard drive that chewed nearly seven minutes.
- Tar Heels offense stalled: four punts plus a turnover; eight of their last 16 plays before halftime went for zero or negative yards amid heavy TCU pressure.
- UNC’s defense grabbed its first takeaway on a Hoover interception before Lopez was picked by Clark for six.
- Belichick, 73, is making his collegiate coaching debut after an offseason roster overhaul headlined by 41 transfers.
Verified Facts
North Carolina opened the Belichick era with a crisp, scripted drive. Lopez connected deep with Jordan Shipp for 39 yards, then again in the red zone for 19, setting up Caleb Hood’s 8-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
TCU settled in on its second possession. Quarterback Josh Hoover found Jordan Dwyer behind coverage for a 27-yard touchdown to level the score. The Horned Frogs’ defensive front then produced a key sack from Zach Chapman to end UNC’s next series.
Early in the second quarter, TCU mounted a methodical, clock-draining march — 14 plays for 55 yards — ending in a 32-yard Lemmermann field goal for a 10-7 edge after an offensive pass interference wiped out a red-zone chance.
The first half’s swing sequence followed: UNC intercepted Hoover for its first takeaway of the season, but a few plays later Lopez threw short to the boundary and Clark jumped the route for a 25-yard pick-six, pushing TCU ahead 17-7. A subsequent Frogs scoring drive extended the cushion to 20-7 by the break.
By halftime, Dwyer was Hoover’s top target with six receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. North Carolina’s protection issues were evident, as TCU stacked backfield stops and hits on Lopez, stalling the Tar Heels after their opening strike.
Context & Impact
Belichick’s debut comes after North Carolina replaced Mack Brown with the eight-time Super Bowl champion and retooled the roster via a top-10 transfer haul, including former South Alabama starter Gio Lopez. The early returns showed promise on the script but exposed cohesion and pass-protection growing pains against a veteran TCU unit.
TCU enters 2025 off a nine-win campaign and projects among Big 12 contenders. A statement road performance in a charged prime-time setting would reinforce that outlook — and provide a counterweight to the national focus on Belichick.
For the ACC, a UNC win would have added to an encouraging Week 1. Instead, the Tar Heels must rally to avoid dampening momentum with Tuesday’s AP Top 25 update looming, where as many as four league teams are expected to appear.
Scoring summary (first half)
- 1Q — UNC 7-0: Caleb Hood 8-yard rush after 83-yard drive (key plays: Lopez-to-Shipp gains of 39 and 19).
- 1Q — 7-7: TCU’s Josh Hoover 27-yard TD pass to Jordan Dwyer.
- 2Q — TCU 10-7: Kyle Lemmermann 32-yard FG at 11:13 after a 14-play, 55-yard drive.
- 2Q — TCU 17-7: Bud Clark 25-yard interception return TD at 3:57 (unsportsmanlike penalty on celebration).
- HALF — TCU 20-7: Horned Frogs add late-half points to cap a 20-0 run.
Official Statements
We’re devoting more time and attention to make sure our guys are ready to play.
Sonny Dykes, via CBS Sports, on preparing for UNC amid the Belichick buzz
Unconfirmed
- Second-half adjustments from UNC on protection and tempo (not disclosed at halftime).
- Any injury updates affecting rotations beyond what was reported in-game.
- Postgame ranking implications until the AP Top 25 is released.
Bottom Line
Belichick’s UNC debut delivered an early script-driven punch, but TCU’s experience and defensive opportunism took control before halftime. The Tar Heels need cleaner protection and mistake-free quarterback play to flip the script after the break, while the Horned Frogs can lean on Hoover-to-Dwyer rhythm and a swarming back end led by Bud Clark.