Carolina’s 2026 football schedule is very bad news.
In Bill Belichick’s freshman season as a college coach, the Tar Heels’ schedule was ranked in the middle of 132 major college teams. And that was likely boosted by their new coach’s reputation.
After going 4-8 with only two wins over Power 4 opponents, the Hoodie’s Heels should have been rated much lower. After all, Belichick admitted they had about 70 new players and little experience on offensive and a defense depleted by the portal.
Their first of two big boy wins came at Syracuse which had begun the season at 3-1 after upsetting Clemson in Death Valley 34-21. Late in that game, Orange quarterback Steve Angeli, who had transferred from Notre Dame, tore his Achilles and was lost for the season. The Orange dropped their last eight games with back-up quarterbacks, including 27-10 to UNC, to finish 3-9. Angeli has recovered and will face the Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on Oct. 24.
The Heels’ other Power 4 win in 2025 was at home over Stanford, which was playing with its back-up quarterback and lost 20-15. The Cardinal is not on the 2026 schedule, which does not help.
The strength of schedule has not come out, and Carolina is certain to be in the top 20. The opening game is once against TCU, which will be favored in Dublin on Aug. 29. We all remember how Belichick’ first game was thrilling for about five minutes before the Horned Frogs completed the 48-14 blowout.
This fall, the Tar Heels trade their other three non-conference opponents (Charlotte, Richmond and Central Florida) for the home opener against East Tennessee on Sept. 12, Notre Dame here on Oct. 3 and at UConn on Nov. 17. They combined to go 27-10 last season.
For conference games, the upgrade is even worse. Instead of going to California (a 21-18 loss) and Wake Forest (a 28-12 loss), Carolina travels to Pitt (7-6 last season) and plays Louisville (9-4) and CFP runner-up Miami (10-3) here.
The rematches from home games in 2025 are at Clemson, at Pitt, at Duke and at Virginia. And UNC will try to snap a five-game losing streak to N.C. State on Senior Day to end the regular season.
Even the most optimistic eye might say the Tar Heels, on paper, are favored to win one game, East Tennessee State. Could the Hoodie’s sophomore season end 1-11?
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Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
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