Bill Belichick almost pulled a rabbit out of the hat, upsetting No. 15–ranked Virginia over the weekend. If Gio Lopez’s throw had been more precise, or if RB Benjamin Hall had stretched his arm just two centimeters longer, the narrative around Belichick would’ve changed completely; he would’ve become the Chapel Hill Hero overnight. But football doesn’t work on ifs and buts. UNC is picking up the pieces and preparing to face another near bottom-ranked Syracuse football team. The head coach, Fran Brown, is keeping things strictly football against Belichick.

On October 27, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown stepped to the podium ahead of their matchup with the UNC Tar Heels in New York. When asked about facing one of the greatest football coaches of all time, Brown kept it professional: “I’m honored to be able to coach at Syracuse University. So it really doesn’t matter who we’re about to go up and play against. It’s an honor to be the head football coach here, to be able to go and compete against anybody.”

Fran Brown doesn’t have time to be a fanboy right now. The Orange have hit a new low under him since Steve Angeli’s injury. A torn Achilles tendon ended his season, forcing Fran Brown to think about what’s next. After last year’s surprising success, Syracuse Orange’s 2024-25 football season (10–3) has been a reality check.

After starting the season with a tough loss to Tennessee, the Orange have had an up-and-down ride, including a massive win over Clemson and several discouraging losses. They are now 3–5 heading into the weekend against UNC. The Oranges are now fighting for bowl eligibility, and to make that happen, they’ll need to come out on top against the Tar Heels at home.

Coach Fran gave props to Bill Belichick and his legends: “I’m thankful that I got a chance to know who Coach Belichick was and get to know him, and I’m happy I get the chance to compete against him, right? It’s a football game, and it’s a blessing that I get to do this. So I’m very thankful for the opportunity to compete this weekend and to help our football team be able to go out.”

For UNC, it’s about trying to find its first ACC victory of the season. They are basically two sides of the same ACC coin. Just look at their statistics. Both programs are struggling to score touchdowns. Over the last four games, the Tar Heels have averaged around 13.3 points, and the Oranges have averaged 12.5 points since Steve Angeli got hurt. However, it will be a low-score Halloween weekend at the JMA Wireless Dome.

UNC and Bill Belichick Mid-season report

College football reached its mid-season crisis period. A quick evaluation would give us understand how far UNC has come under Bill Belichick’s regime. The season started with the ‘33rd NFL team’ and fanfare, especially given Belichick’s deep family ties to the university.

However, the team has struggled mightily on the field, compiling a 2-5 record. The two wins came against smaller programs. The troubles run deeper than match days. Let’s not begin with the Jordon Hudson drama. The off-field debacle has plagued the team, with multiple reports citing a “toxic environment” and a disorganized staff. Reports indicated Belichick gave preferential treatment to his recruits, following a UNC assistant’s suspension for an NCAA rules violation.

To make things worse, a Hulu documentary series about the team was called off, which drew more criticism. The situation grew so intense that buyout rumors started swirling, which Belichick strongly denied, stating his commitment to the program. The remaining season will test Belichick’s old-school coaching methods and ability to adapt to college football’s unique pressures and environment.