Tar Heel Tribune Podcast

The “Tar Heel Tribune Podcast,” with hosts Britt Whitmire and R.L. Bynum, gives Tar Heel Tribune readers a conversational companion to the site’s written coverage of Carolina athletics with interviews, opinions and insights.

Edwards to reportedly start at QB in UNC’s opener against TCU

Graduate student Billy Edwards Jr., who was considered the favorite to be North Carolina’s starting quarterback entering training camp, reportedly will be the starter for next week’s opener against TCU. Junior Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill started scrimmages, got first-team reps in practices open to the media and made it a close race, but ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Tuesday afternoon that, according to sources, Edwards would be the starter for the noon ET game Aug. 29 at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland.

UNC moves up in Top 25 women’s soccer poll after dominant wins; Devey earns ACC honor

After a pair of dominant victories to start the season, North Carolina moved up one spot in the United Soccer Coaches women’s soccer Top 25 to No. 7 and sophomore forward Bella Devey is the ACC Offensive Player of the Week. Devey notched a brace in the Tar Heels’ 4–0 opening-match victory Thursday over Fairfield and produced a hat trick in Sunday’s 8–0 thrashing of Quinnipiac. With team-leading five goals, she’s already matched her total last season and leads the team with 10 points.

Malone says Roy Williams has ‘had a lot to do’ with him taking UNC job

Michael Malone said he turned down the North Carolina job three times before taking it and that Hall of Fame former UNC coach Roy Williams had a lot to do with him taking on the challenge. Malone made the comments during a 15½-minute appearance with Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports on Tuesday’s episode of the “Inside College Basketball Now” podcast. Across the conversation, Malone touched on his path back to college basketball, his relationship with Williams, how he built his staff and what he wants from his first Tar Heels team.

UNC women’s soccer match to Dublin, first team trip abroad in 15 years, presents plenty of challenges

CHAPEL HILL — The North Carolina women’s soccer team is headed across the Atlantic next week, and the trip carries plenty of challenges and history along with it. The Tar Heels will travel to Dublin, Ireland, to face Shelbourne FC in an international friendly on Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. ET, a day before the UNC football team takes on TCU in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The games will be played in stadiums less than four miles apart, with the soccer match at Tolka Park and the football game at Aviva Stadium.

UNC faces three teams ranked in preseason AP poll, including two in top 10

The preseason AP Top 25 football poll offers more proof that North Carolina’s 2026 schedule is far tougher than the one it faced during a 4–8 season a year ago. Virginia was the Tar Heels’ only ranked opponent last season (No. 16 when UNC lost 17-16 in overtime at Kenan Stadium on Oct. 25), but this year they’ll face three ranked teams, including two in the top 10, along with four others that received votes.

Devey nets hat trick as No. 8 UNC dominates on both ends

CHAPEL HILL — The focal point for No. 8 North Carolina is clear, at least through two matches. As the striker in the 3–2–4–1 formation, sophomore Bella Devey has already equaled her goal total from last season. She followed up a brace in the opener with a hat trick in the first 14½ minutes of the Tar Heels’ dominant 8–0 victory Sunday over Quinnipiac.

When do Tar Heels play in NFL preseason openers this weekend? Brooks breaks hand

Every team with a Tar Heel in NFL training camps plays its preseason opener this weekend, with stars such as Drake Maye or Javonte Williams unlikely to play. In contrast, others will take snaps attempting to solidify their positions. Among the former UNC players who won’t be playing is Houston fullback British Brooks, who had surgery Aug. 5 to repair a broken hand suffered in practice, and is expected to be out a few more weeks.