Who: North Carolina under new head coach Bill Belichick. When: Sept. 6, 2025. Where: Charlotte, N.C. What: Gio Lopez hit Chris Culliver with a 51-yard touchdown on the opening drive and Davion Gause added a 12-yard rushing score as UNC beat Charlotte 20-3 in a rain-affected game that gave Belichick his first victory as a college head coach.
Key Takeaways
- UNC won 20-3; the Tar Heels improved to 1-1 while Charlotte fell to 0-2.
- Gio Lopez finished 17-of-25 for 155 yards and threw the 51-yard TD to Chris Culliver on the game’s first possession.
- Davion Gause scored on a 12-yard run late in the second quarter to give UNC a 17-3 halftime lead.
- North Carolina’s defense limited Charlotte to 271 total yards and forced two turnovers.
- Charlotte QB Conner Harrell was 17-of-29 for 140 yards; the 49ers produced just 21 rushing yards on 29 attempts.
- Belichick, 73, arrived on a five-year, $50 million deal to lead UNC after a rocky 48-14 opener vs. TCU.
Verified Facts
The Tar Heels opened the game with a quick strike: Lopez completed two short throws before finding Culliver deep down the left sideline for a 51-yard touchdown. That early score put UNC up 7-0 and forced Charlotte to chase the game in wet conditions.
Offensive momentum was sporadic for UNC after the opening drive. The Heels’ offense stalled for long stretches, but a sustained drive just before halftime culminated in Davion Gause’s 12-yard run with 19 seconds remaining, extending the lead to 17-3.
Charlotte mounted a potential turning point in the third quarter when E. Jai Mason dropped a pass in the end zone on fourth-and-6 after Harrell scrambled to extend the play. Harrell finished with 140 passing yards; the 49ers’ ground game managed only 21 yards on 29 carries.
Defensively, UNC forced two turnovers and held Charlotte to 271 total yards. Lopez, who left the opener against TCU with a back issue, was able to practice during the week and returned to start this game.
Context & Impact
Belichick arrived at Chapel Hill with national attention and a lucrative five-year, $50 million contract intended to raise the program’s profile. His debut drew scrutiny after UNC was routed 48-14 by TCU in Week 1; Saturday’s win offers an early corrective but does not erase broader questions about the team’s consistency on offense.
For Charlotte, the loss amplifies concerns about protecting the quarterback and generating a running game. The 49ers have yet to find a reliable offensive identity through two games, and missed opportunities — including the third-quarter drop — have been costly.
Short-term implications: UNC hosts Richmond next Saturday, a matchup that will test whether the Tar Heels can convert defensive solidity into more consistent offensive production. Charlotte hosts Monmouth next weekend and will look for answers to its protection and rushing issues.
“It’s hard to win. You gotta do a lot of things right. You gotta do it better than your opponent, so we were fortunate to do that,”
Bill Belichick
“That drive before halftime was a huge momentum killer. Tonight is about us getting better and showing improvement in a lot of areas,”
Tim Albin, Charlotte coach
Unconfirmed
- The long-term impact of Lopez’s back issue on his availability remains unclear beyond his ability to practice this week.
- Whether Belichick’s NFL-proven system will consistently translate to sustained offensive success at the college level is an open question.
Bottom Line
Saturday’s 20-3 win gives Bill Belichick a first collegiate victory and provides a defensive foundation for UNC to build on. Offensively, UNC still showed extended lulls and will need steadier quarterback play and more consistent execution to answer the doubts raised after the season-opening loss to TCU.