Rece Davis Names College Football Program In For a 'Really Long Season'

"It's going to be a really long season for North Carolina," Davis said. "Because that's not the last time that will happen when they play higher-level opponents. The good news for them is that they catch some breaks. They do have Clemson, but there will be ways that they will find ways to win. They will improve as it goes along."

Transfer Quarterback Struggles in Debut

North Carolina ranked No. 9 in the transfer portal after adding 41 new players to the team, including former South Alabama Jaguars quarterback Gio Lopez. He had a strong season for the Jaguars, throwing for 2,559 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions last season. He also added 463 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

In the game against TCU, he struggled. He had 58 yards on the first drive of the game, but finished with 69 yards on 4-of-10 passing. He also had an interception and ended with a 1.9 QBR.

He was injured just after the midway point of the third quarter and was replaced by Max Johnson, who completed 9-of-11 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown. Belichick mentioned that Lopez is doing well, but did not comment on which quarterback will be the starter moving forward.

What’s Next for Belichick and the Tar Heels?

The main question is how Belichick and North Carolina will respond moving forward. As Davis pointed out, the schedule does become more manageable. The Tar Heels will face only one currently ranked team for the remainder of the season, and that's Clemson, which they will play at home. However, they do have some competitive matchups ahead, including the UCF Knights, Syracuse Orange and Duke Blue Devils at home.

Belichick’s first game as an NFL head coach also ended in defeat, and he eventually built one of the greatest dynasties the sport has ever seen. That history offers a reminder not to overreact to a single game.

Still, the college game is a different animal and the questions surrounding his fit at UNC will only grow louder if the Tar Heels don’t improve quickly. Week 1 showed how far they have to go – now the spotlight turns to Belichick to prove he can adapt and steady the program.