North Carolina vs. TCU Live Game Thread

The wait is finally over as North Carolina will take on TCU on Monday night at 8 p.m.

The game against TCU marks Bill Belichick’s collegiate coaching debut. Belichick has never coached at the college level, either as an assistant or a head coach. He won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots, but you probably already knew that.

The 2025 roster features 38 returners and 70 newcomers, including 40 transfers and 30 true freshmen. The most notable newcomer is starting quarterback Gio Lopez completed 66 percent of his passes last season, throwing for 2,559 yards with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions in 11 games. He also rushed for 463 yards and scored seven more times on the ground.

TCU is coming off of a 9-4 record and a victory in the New Mexico Bowl. The Horned Frogs are led by Sonny Dykes, who is 27-13 and is in his fourth season on the job. He led TCU in the 2023 College Football Playoff where they defeated Michigan in the FIesta Bowl before ultimately losing to Georgia in the national championship game.

The Horned Frogs return starting quarterback Josh Hoover, an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2024, who set TCU’s single-season passing record with 3,949 yards.

Since 2000, TCU has compiled a 220-95 record, won seven conference championships — including titles in the WAC, Conference USA, Mountain West (four), and Big 12 — and appeared in four BCS/New Year’s Six bowls. The program also reached the national title game in 2022 and has posted ten 11-win seasons, compared to just one for North Carolina in that span.

This year’s matchup begins a two-game series between the programs, with next year’s game taking place at the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic, in Dublin, Ireland.

Friday's game is set for 8 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN. Be sure to follow along with our live game thread for updates throughout the contest.

Notable Number Changes

Running back Davion Gause will be changing his number from 21 to 37.

Running back Demon June will be changing his number from 12 to 35.

Tight end Connor Cox will be changing his number from 18 to 87.

Start of the 1st Quarter

North Carolina 7, TCU 0 (10:55 1Q)

UNC — Oct 28, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a North Carolina Tar Heels helmet on the field before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

TCU strikes first off of a 8-yard touchdown run from Hood. Hood opened up the drive with two rushes of eight and nine yards. That allowed for UNC to open up its play-action pass arsenal, leading to Gio Lopez to complete passes of 39 and 19 yards to Jordan Shipp

North Carolina 7, TCU 0 (8:54 1Q)

UNC — Oct 28, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a North Carolina Tar Heels helmet on the field before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

North Carolina gets its first stop. The key for this game is for UNC to put pressure on Josh Hoover and get the offense off the field. The Heels must get the Horned Frogs out of rhythm

North Carolina 7, TCU 0 (6:39 1Q)

UNC — Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the field before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

UNC has a false start, a rush of 0 yards and Gio Lopez gets sacked. North Carolina then goes for the conservative third-down run. Turnover on downs.

North Carolina 7, TCU 7 (4:08 1Q)

TCU gets on the board after a 27-yard touchdown pass from Josh Hoover to Jordan Dwyer. The play was set up by a questionable pass interefence call.

North Carolina 7, TCU 7 (2:37 1Q)

A quick three-and-out for UNC.

END OF 1ST QUARTER - North Carolina 7, TCU 7.

UNC — Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the field before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

North Carolina opened up the game with a 7-play, 83-yard drive. Since then, they have -11 yards. Ouch.

Also of note, TCU is 2-for-3 on third down. UNC, on the other hand, 0-for-2.

Horned Frogs have made adjustments. The Tar Heels are still figuring it out.

2nd Quarter

TCU 10, North Carolina 7 (11:13 2Q)

UNC — Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Jordan Shipp (1) catches a long pass as TCU Horned Frogs safety Jamel Johnson (2) defends in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

TCU gets called for offensive pass interference in the red zone. However, they had two nice pass plays to the left side.

Coleman Bryson of UNC came up with the huge pass breakup on third down in the corner of the endzone by the pyline.

TCU takes its first lead of the game with a 32-yard FG by Kyle Lemmermann.

TCU 10, UNC 7 (9:40 2Q)

UNC goes 3-and-out once again. It is the third consecutive one since their scoring drive to open up the game. Since that drive: -10 yards on 10 plays.

TCU 10, UNC 7 (5:13 2Q)

UNC — Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Caleb Hood (4) clelebrates with tight end Jordan Owens (80) and wide receiver Alex Taylor (0) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

INTERCEPTION!

On third down, TCU's Josh Hoover throws it a bit high for Jordyn Bailey, who tips it up in the air and it fell into Kaleb Cost's hands.

The Tar Heels take over on their own 19-yard line.

TCU 17, North Carolina 7 (3:57 2Q)

UNC — Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Jordan Dwyer (7) catches a touchdown pass as North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Marcus Allen (29) defends in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Gio Lopez throws a quick pass to Jordan Shipp but TCU's Bud Clark makes a great read and intercepted the ball and just kept running into the endzone.

TCU 20, North Carolina 7 (0:00 2Q)

TCU takes a two-touchdown lead after a 33-yard field goal from Kyle Lemmermann, his second field goal made of the game. TCU had 63 yards on nine plays.

Halftime - TCU 20, UNC 7

Yards Comparison

Total Yards - TCU 247, UNC 103

Passing Yards - TCU 193, UNC 58

Rushing Yards - TCU 54, UNC 45

Stat Leaders

UNC — Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Passing

Gio Lopez (UNC) - 2-for-6, 58 yards, INT

Josh Hoover (TCU) - 20-for-25, 193 yards, TD, INT

Rushing

Kevorian Barnes (TCU) - 9 rushes for 36 yards

Caleb Hood (UNC) - 8 rushes for 33 yards, TD

Receiving

Jordan Shipp (UNC) - 2 receptions, 58 yards

Jordan Dwyer (TCU) - 7 catches, 92 yards, TD

Third Quarter

TCU 27, North Carolina 7 (14:48 3Q)

TCU scores on the first play of scrimmage as Kevorian Barnes runs up the middle, bounces out to the right side of the field and runs 75 yards for a touchdown. It's getting ugly here at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

TCU 34, North Carolina 7 (8:30 3Q)

TCU running back Trent Battle goes untouched for a 28-yard touchdown to finish off a nine-play, 85-yard scoring drive. It was his first carry.

UNC has been terrible today. On both sides. However, the defense had mutiple missed tackles throughout the drive and allowed a third down conversion on a 3rd-and-20 play.

It will be a long week of practice for the Tar Heels.

TCU 41, North Carolina 7 (8:30 3Q)

UNC — Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Gio Lopez gets strip-sacked by TCU's Johnathan Bax and Devean Deal scoops up for a 37-yard touchdown. It's only going to get uglier.

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TCU 41, North Carolina 14 (0:29 3Q)

Max Johnson comes in for Gio Lopez and proceeds to complete seven of his eight pass attempts for 81 yards. He finishes off the scoring drive by throwing a passing touchdown to his younger brother, Jake.

4th Quarter

Quarterback Gio Lopez will be out for the rest of the game with a back injury.

TCU 41, North Carolina 14 (11:49 4Q)

UNC was approaching the redzone and Davion Gause mishandled the handoff and TCU hopped on the loose ball.

TCU 48, North Carolina 14 (9:21 4Q)

Josh Hoover throws second touchdown pass of the game, this time to DJ Rogers for four yards, to finish off a 5-play, 76-yard scoring drive.

It was set up by two runs of 16 and 26 yards by Nate Palmer and a 33-yard pass from Hoover to Dwyer.

End of Game - TCU 48, North Carolina 14

That was an embarassing start to the Belichick era.

UNC — Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Caleb Hood (4) clelebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images