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Paul Finebaum Names Major College Football Coach Who Looks 'Clueless'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 1:00 PM ET

One of the biggest stories in college football this season is legendary former NFL head coach Bill Belichick taking over as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels after the school parted ways with Mack Brown last year.

Belichick is an eight-time Super Bowl champion, having won six titles as head coach of the New England Patriots and two as an assistant coach with the New York Giants. However, his tenure with the Tar Heels has had a difficult start. North Carolina is 2-3 coming off a blowout loss to the Clemson Tigers, 38-10, at home.

ESPN's Paul Finebaum criticized Belichick during a segment on "The Matt Barrie Show" podcast.

North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick.Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

"Belichick couldn't look any more clueless," Finebaum said.

The Tar Heels have started the season with a 2-3 record, suffering defeats in all three of their games against Power Five opponents by significant margins. North Carolina began the season with a loss to the TCU Horned Frogs, falling 48-14.

They then secured a victory against the Charlotte 49ers with a score of 20-3 and later defeated the Richmond Spiders from the FCS, winning 41-6. However, the Tar Heels faced a loss against the UCF Knights, 34-9, followed by a defeat to Clemson.

The biggest challenge for the Tar Heels is their underperforming offense. North Carolina is currently ranked 131st in total offense, 121st in passing offense and 118th in rushing offense. In their recent game against Clemson, the Tar Heels managed only 270 yards of total offense, which included just 57 rushing yards.

For Belichick, who built his NFL legacy on preparation and execution, the learning curve in college football appears steeper than expected. The Tar Heels still have time to rebound, but unless the offense finds life soon, Finebaum’s critique may only grow louder as the season progresses.

The Tar Heels will play the California Golden Bears at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN on Saturday, Oct. 17.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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