Artacho’s Angle: UNC Football Almost Flipped the Narrative

Three points. That was the difference between North Carolina and California on Friday night on the West Coast as the Tar Heels were a goal-line fumble away from taking the lead and applying even more game pressure on the Bears, despite their home crowd in attendance.

UNC quarterback Gio Lopez found wide receiver Nathan Leacock for a completed pass, but as Leacock made his way toward the end zone. California's defensive back, Brent Austin, punched at the football — forcing it loose — and eventually got a hold of the ball in the end zone for a touchback.

Oct 17, 2025; Berkeley, California, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick looks on before the game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Tar Heel fans in the stands were crushed after their team seemed to be that close to feeling good about themselves, even if it was just for a moment. The drama off the field has not bode well for a lot of fans.

Whether it was Lopez's car crash, or the suspension of cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins, the divided locker room dilemma, and, as of late, Michael Lombardi's trip to Saudi Arabia, not too long before UNC's season opener against TCU (where it was then destroyed on national television... badly).

Oct 17, 2025; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears head coach Justin Wilcox and North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick shake hands after the game at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

However, North Carolina almost made me eat my words. I had said that the Tar Heels would fall to the California Bears, which happened, but not as badly as I thought they would. In my score prediction, I said UNC would lose to California, 27-7, not even crossing the double-digit mark on the scoreboard, considering its past performances leading up to the game.

North Carolina Was Actually Competitive

Oct 17, 2025; Berkeley, California, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez (7) throws against the California Golden Bears in the third quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

UNC made its outing against the Bears... competitive. One aspect of its first three Power 4 games was lacking from the beginning to the end. North Carolina stayed in the fight and did not let up, even though it was trailing behind. Whether it was for this game or signs of improvement, nobody will truly know until its next contest on October 25 against Virginia.

If UNC can repeat a similar performance, and come out victorious, then that will be a big indicator that it has improved after all; after all of the chaos; after all of the controversy in the news; after all of everything.

Oct 17, 2025; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (3) looks for a pass while under pressure from North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker Khmori House (7) in the second quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

This season has not panned out into anything the offseason hype made it out to be. UNC has fallen short... way short of those expectations, and is now trying to rewrite the narrative into something a little bit more positive; something that will have Tar Heel fans who attend Kenan Memorial Stadium looking forward to... because the way it has played has been a letdown.

The Positives

Oct 17, 2025; Berkeley, California, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Davion Gause (37) runs the ball against the California Golden Bears in the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Lopez learned more about himself following the game, finding a new target to throw to other than wide receiver Jordan Shipp. Senior Kobe Paysour played similarly to his old self, who had a hard time trying to come out under Bill Belichick.

Paysour had his best outing of the 2025 season with 101 receiving yards on six receptions — his longest catch being 37 yards.

UNC had 34 total targets, seven of which were Paysour, with Shipp having the most (to no surprise, of course) with eight. Paysour also led the team in yards after catch — 13. Overall, it was performance that North Carolina needed to further its options on the offense end, beyond the run game and Shipp.

Oct 17, 2025; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears wide receiver QuaRon Adams (18) runs the ball against North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Jaiden Patterson (18) in the third quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

If Paysour continues having performances like this, it should allow for more opportunities to get into the end zone, making it challenging for opposing defenses to pick and choose who the primary focus will be. Lopez would no longer need to look only toward Shipp most of the time.

Everything considered, North Carolina has a lot of work left to do, even if it made strides toward a somewhat better team — the two fumbles (the other being on its very first play of its opening drive) were costly and simply things that should not happen if it wants to turn their "L" into a "W."

The Cavaliers and head coach Tony Elliott hold a record of 6-1 and 3-0 in ACC play, led by Chandler Morris, who has had an outstanding season, throwing for 1,607 yards and 11 touchdowns (including four interceptions). He will pose a serious challenge for UNC's defense, but it will be a chance for the Tar Heels to prove doubters wrong.

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