By R.L. Bynum
Bill Belichick didn’t need any reminders about the stakes.
His first season at North Carolina has already introduced him to plenty of emotional swings, but this week’s challenge — a Saturday night finale at N.C. State — comes with its own gravity.
The Tar Heels head to Carter–Finley Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday game (ACC Network) facing what Belichick calls a “super competitive environment,” a place where he expects an atmosphere “similar to what we saw last week, but on their turf.”
A rivalry game under the lights, he noted, means “a lot of wide energy there,” and history has taught him that Coach Dave Doeren’s program rarely gives an inch.
Belichick, at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, described the Wolfpack as “always… a tough, highly competitive team,” one that plays with “really good fundamentals and good energy.”
He emphasized that UNC’s margin for error, especially on the road, will be razor-thin.
“You can’t afford any plays off against this group,” he said. “They just keep coming at you.”
The blueprint begins with discipline — something the Tar Heels lacked frequently in their loss to Duke.
“Too many personal foul penalties, and that really cost us in the game,” he said.
With emotions running hot in rivalry settings, he said UNC “just [has] to do a better job of keeping our poise and playing football and not doing things after the play.”
Matching N.C. State’s physicality will be the next test. Belichick praised the Wolfpack’s defensive front as “the strongest, most physical group that we’ve seen,” anchored by linemen who are “big, strong guys… very physical inside, hard to move.”
N.C. State’s disruptiveness, even without big sack totals, means UNC’s offense must continue trending upward with its improving timing and precision.
“It’s overall just execution,” Belichick said of his unit. “Everybody is just a little more precise in their assignments. That makes all the difference.”
Defensively, the mission centers on limiting explosive plays from an offense powered by quarterback C.J. Bailey and a backfield tandem that Belichick clearly respects.
Running back Hollywood Smothers, he said, “is just very good in contact. He finds holes,” while JaydenScott brings both a rushing threat and special-teams danger.
Containing them requires tackling in tight spaces, but Belichick acknowledged plainly: “The more space you give a back, the harder it is to tackle them, especially a good one.”
Belichick praised the Wolfpack’s competitiveness and toughness, saying that they play hard “throughout the down [on] every play,” including in often-overlooked moments such as special teams rushes, which he called a telling sign of the program’s culture.
He compared the feel of ACC rivalries to annual NFL divisional battles he had during his years coaching the New England Patriots.
“When you play a team twice a year [with] a lot of the same players, a lot of the same coaches, [it’s] super competitive environments.” Once the game starts, he added, the noise and hostility fade behind a single priority.
“Our overall execution, communication [is important],” Belichick said. “We have to do a better job of keeping our poise and playing penalty-free. It’s hard to win when you have 10 penalties.”
Several Tar Heels have played in Raleigh before, but for many, Saturday will be their first exposure to Carter–Finley’s hostility. Belichick said the staff has spoken about it, drawing on members who have coached or played there. Still, he kept the focus simple.
“They’ve played very well at home,” he said. “We understand that it’s going to be a big challenge. But, ultimately, we’re gonna have to tackle them and block them and throw and catch. If we don’t do that, it won’t make any difference about all the rest of it.”
| Team | ACC | All |
|---|---|---|
| No. 16 Virginia | 7–1 | 10–2 |
| No. 12 Miami | 6–2 | 10–2 |
| No. 25 SMU | 6–2 | 8–4 |
| No. 24 Georgia Tech | 6–2 | 9–3 |
| Pittsburgh | 6–2 | 8–4 |
| Duke | 6–2 | 7–5 |
| Louisville | 4–4 | 8–4 |
| Wake Forest | 4–4 | 8–4 |
| California | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| Clemson | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| N.C. State | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| Stanford | 3–5 | 4–8 |
| Florida State | 2–6 | 5–7 |
| North Carolina | 2–6 | 4–8 |
| Virginia Tech | 2–6 | 3–9 |
| Syracuse | 1–7 | 3–9 |
| Boston College | 1–7 | 2–10 |
Friday’s result
No. 4 Georgia 16, No. 24 Georgia Tech 9
Saturday’s results
N.C. State 42, North Carolina 19
No. 12 Miami 38, Pittsburgh 7
Louisville 41, Kentucky 0
Clemson 28, South Carolina 14
Boston College 34, Syracuse 12
Duke 49, Wake Forest 32
Florida 40, Florida State 21
No. 16 Virginia 27, Virginia Tech 7
California 38, No. 25 SMU 35
No. 9 Notre Dame 49, Stanford 20
Saturday’s ACC championship game
No. 16 Virginia vs. Duke in Charlotte, 8 p.m., ABC
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent | Record/ TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | |||
| 1 | L, 48–14 | vs. TCU | 0–1 |
| 6 | W, 20–3 | at Charlotte | 1–1 |
| 13 | W, 41–6 | vs. Richmond | 2–1 |
| 20 | L, 34–9 | at UCF | 2–2 |
| October | |||
| 4 | L, 38–10 | vs. Clemson | 2–3, 0–1 ACC |
| 17 (Fri.) | L, 21–18 | at California | 2–4, 0–2 |
| 25 | L, 17–16, OT | vs. No. 16 Virginia | 2–5, 0–3 |
| 31 (Fri.) | W, 27–10 | at Syracuse | 3–5, 1–3 |
| November | |||
| 8 | W, 20–15 | vs. Stanford | 4–5, 2–3 |
| 15 | L, 28–12 | at Wake Forest | 4–6, 2–4 |
| 22 | L, 32–25 | vs. Duke | 4–7, 2–5 |
| 29 | L, 42–19 | at N.C. State | 4–8, 2–6 |
Photo by Joshua Lawton
tarheeltribune.com 