This potential issue was exposed against the Michigan State Spartans on Thanksgiving Day. In that game, the Tar Heels' bench produced five points across 27 minutes, split by two players.
Coming off a loss against a formidable opponent in the Michigan State Spartans, the North Carolina Tar Heels are facing unfamiliar territory, as they are no longer undefeated.
The 2025 college football season, by outright failure for the North Carolina Tar Heels. In Bill Belichick's first year as the team's head coach, the Tar Heels finished with a 4-8 record, 14th in the ACC, and failed to qualify for bowl eligibility.
The North Carolina Tar Heels have not been at full strength in recent weeks, as senior guard Seth Trimble has been out for five weeks with a fractured arm.
North Carolina freshman Derek Dixon became the star of the night as his driving layup with 16 seconds left lifted the 16th-ranked Tar Heels to a 67-64 victory over No. 18 Kentucky on Tuesday in Lexington, Kentucky.
Wide receiver and interior offensive line seemed to be the focal point for the Tar Heels in this upcoming class. North Carolina landed seven wide receivers and five guards, which will help desperate needs for the offense.
Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels dropped to 4-8 on Saturday, losing to the NC State Wolfpack 42-19. The Tar Heels' 2025 season is officially over after failing to win six regular-season games to reach bowl game eligibility.
Jeremy Fears Jr. poured in 15 of his 19 points in the second half and Carson Cooper racked up 14 points as No. 11 Michigan State used a key 9-0 run down the stretch to win 74-58.
The start of the Bill Belichick era was supposed to bring a ton of hope to the North Carolina Tar Heels' football program, but this 2025 season has underwhelmed. That's to say it nicely, as well.