As the UNC football team is now just two weeks away from its 2026 opener, there's still plenty of offseason work to be done.
North Carolina will be part of the first matchup to kick off 2026, facing TCU in a rematch on Saturday, August 29 at 12 p.m. The Tar Heels and Horned Frogs will play across the pond, heading to Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland for the Aer Lingus Classic.
During his press conference on Friday afternoon, UNC head coach Bill Belichick said his players still have plenty of work to do ahead of their 2026 opener.
“We just continue to add things each day that get us closer to getting ready to start the season," Belichick said. "Two weeks from today, we’ll be across the ocean. We’re getting closer, but still have some time. We’re definitely not ready to do that yet, but I think we’re on pace to be there. Still got a lot of work to do, but that’s about where we expected to be.”
North Carolina still hasn't announced a starting quarterback, with a decision likely coming down to Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards and Texas A&M transfer Miles O'Neill. The Tar Heels re-vamped their defense with additions like Syracuse transfer Derek McDonald and class of 2026 high school recruit Zavion Griffin-Haynes, while returners like 2025 starters Jordan Shipp and Demon June look to provide a major offensive boost.
UNC has its first bye week after playing in Europe, then returns to host East Tennessee State in its home opener on September 12. By then, North Carolina should be fully ready for its gauntlet of a schedule.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Bill Belichick believes UNC has 'a lot of work' left to do