Tar Heels Face TCU Without Belichick | North Carolina Tar Heel Football News

The North Carolina Tar Heels kick off their 2026-27 season overseas in Dublin against TCU, but their defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is expected to miss the opener after being on medical leave since August 6. With Belichick sidelined, the team’s coaching staff and players must step up, and linebacker Derek McDonald says they’re rising to the challenge. Ironically, his absence—though tough—may have helped the defense develop new strategies during training camp. The real test is how well they perform without him, and fans will be watching closely to see if the Tar Heels can adapt and win on the road. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c427d054d0604b7d