Sports
Bill Belichick’s UNC coaching debut ends in blowout home loss to TCU
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Bill Belichick had a “welcome to college football” moment on Monday night, as his North Carolina Tar Heels were blown out by the TCU Horned Frogs, 48-14, to begin the 2025 college football season.
It was a night filled with expectation, celebrity appearances and pure hype at Kenan Stadium, as Belichick’s first taste of being a college football head coach started on home turf in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels were hoping to usher in a new era with a victory to not only notch another first under Belichick’s resume, but get the program heading in the right direction from the jump.
The Horned Frogs had another thing in mind, though, as they were fazed by the screaming crowd of over 50,000, which included the likes of Randy Moss, Michael Jordan, Roy Williams, Lawrence Taylor and many more.
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Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on from the sideline during the first half of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium on Sept. 1, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The Belichick era began with an impressive North Carolina opening-drive touchdown, as the Tar Heels went 83 yards down the field with Caleb Hood capping it with his first score of the season.
But it was all TCU after that, scoring 41 unanswered points on their way to an easy victory.
TOM BRADY DISHES ON THE ‘CHALLENGE’ FOR BILL BELICHICK IN 1ST SEASON AT NORTH CAROLINA
Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover was dicing up the Tar Heels’ defense, and it started with a 27-yard strike to Jordan Dwyer, who was a favorite all night long in the pass game, for a touchdown that tied the game at seven apiece following the extra point.
TCU got more physical on defense, especially at the line of scrimmage, which hindered what UNC wanted to do when they had possession. The Horned Frogs held them to three straight three-and-outs, while taking the lead with a field goal early in the second quarter.
Josh Hoover #10 of the TCU Horned Frogs drops back to pass during the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on Sept. 1, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
North Carolina seemed to get some momentum back when Hoover’s pass was too high for his intended receiver, and the Tar Heels’ Kaleb Cost made an acrobatic interception to flip the field.
But UNC quarterback Gio Lopez gave the ball right back to TCU, and it was in the worst way as veteran safety Bud Clark jumped a route and took the interception 25 yards to the house for a pick-six that made it 17-7. The Horned Frogs would end the half with a short field goal, taking a commanding 20-7 lead into the locker room as the crowd was stunned.
That feeling wouldn’t end, though, as the very first play of the second half was a 75-yard touchdown run by Horned Frogs star running back Kevorian Barnes, who went untouched down the right sideline to break the game open.
UNC was unable to come back at that point, as the Horned Frogs continued to run up the score with running back Trent Battle rushing for 28 yards to make it 34-7, and Lopez was sacked by Jonathan Bax, leading his Horned Frogs teammate Devean Deal to scoop up the fumbled football and run it back 37 yards for yet another touchdown.
North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium on Sept. 1, 2025. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
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At that point, Belichick switched quarterbacks, going with Max Johnson, who led a touchdown drive late in the third quarter to add some points for the Tar Heels. But the game was out of reach, and it’s clear the Tar Heels have much to work on heading into next week.
Meanwhile, Hoover showed out in front of many NFL scouts, going 27-of-36 for 284 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception thrown. Barnes had 11 carries for 113 yards, while Dwyer hauled in nine receptions for a whopping 136 yards to help TCU’s cause.
No one expected Belichick to immediately turn the program around and get them to compete for a national title, but this was a shocking result to be dominated at home to kick off his collegiate coaching career.
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The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly set to bolster their defensive line with an intriguing trade involving the Green Bay Packers on Monday.
The Cowboys agreed to acquire Pro Bowl defensive tackle Rashan Gary for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick, according to multiple reports. The deal comes as the team lost out on trying to acquire Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders. He was dealt to the Baltimore Ravens last week.
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Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Rashan Gary (52) during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Nov. 23, 2025. (Jeff Hanisch/Imagn Images)
The Packers selected Gary with the No. 12 overall pick of the 2019 draft out of Michigan. He improved dramatically over the course of seven seasons as he started out as a defensive end, moved to linebacker and then back to the defensive line.
Gary was a Pro Bowl selection in 2024 when he had 7.5 sacks, 47 tackles and a fumble recovery in 17 games. In 2025, Gary played in 16 games. He had 7.5 sacks, 45 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (52) celebrates after the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Nov. 17, 2024. (Daniel Bartel/Imagn Images)
He signed a four-year contract extension with the Packers during the 2023 season. He will be owed $18 million in 2026 and $21 million in 2027.
Dallas was 7-9-1 in the first season with Brian Schottenheimer as the head coach. The team’s defense was shaken up before the season began when the team traded Micah Parsons to the Packers.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer looks on before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Oct. 26, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
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The Cowboys were 32nd in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed during the 2025 season.
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Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said the club’s president Joan Laporta scuppered the return of all-time great Lionel Messi in 2023 to avoid a power struggle.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and then two years later moved to MLS side Inter Miami.
“Leo was signed, in January 2023 after winning the World Cup, we got in touch and he told me he wanted to come back,” Xavi told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia late on Sunday.
“We had the green light from La Liga (financially), but it was the president who threw it away…
“Laporta told me, word for word, that if Leo came back he was going to wage war against him and that he couldn’t allow that. And then suddenly Leo stopped answering my calls because he’d been told that it couldn’t be done.”
Xavi said everything was ready for Messi’s return, there was “no doubt” in a football sense and “we were going to do a last dance, like (former NBA star Michael) Jordan’s”.
Laporta, who resigned as president a few weeks ago to run for re-election this week, suggested Monday former coach Xavi was bitter and said Messi’s father and agent Jorge had told him the superstar had decided not to come back.
“With Xavi I saw we were going to lose and with (current coach Hansi) Flick that we will win,” Laporta said at a presidential debate Monday.
“I understand that (Xavi) is hurt — with the same players Flick wins.”
Laporta said he sent a contract to Jorge Messi who later came to his house and told him that “here there would be too much pressure” if the forward returned.
Messi is Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals and won a club-record 34 trophies at Camp Nou.
Laporta also claimed Barca rejected a 250 million euro ($288 million) offer from PSG for teenage superstar Lamine Yamal, reported to have been made in the summer of 2024.
Liverpool are ahead of Manchester United in the race to land Fulham and USMNT left back Antonee Robinson this summer, while Barcelona won’t let left back Alejandro Balde leave for a move to Old Trafford. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
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TRENDING RUMORS
– Fulham and USMNT left back Antonee Robinson favors a move to Liverpool over Manchester United this summer, according to TEAMtalk. Both clubs are expected to be in the market for a new left back at the end of the season, although their transfer plans may hinge upon qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. According to reports, Robinson could be available for around £25 million, as he is under contract at Fulham until June 2028. Liverpool are looking to replace Andy Robertson, while United are planning for life without Luke Shaw.
– Manchester United have been linked with Barcelona left back Alejandro Balde, but the Spanish club won’t let him depart, says Fabrizio Romano. Balde, 22, is considered a key part of Barcelona’s future, and United have signed Patrick Dorgu to play on the left side of defense already. The report claims United will move for a new left winger this summer, while they will also look for central midfielders and a possible addition at center back as well.
– Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Newcastle United right back Tino Livramento, according to Football Insider. City are keen on bolstering their options at right back, with the club yet to find a long-term replacement for former captain Kyle Walker, and Livramento looks to be their preferred option after a fine season for Newcastle. The 23-year-old England international could move for around the £70 million, although nothing has been finalized at this stage.
– Fulham are expected to “accelerate” their efforts to sign PSV and USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi, according to Fabrizio Romano. Pepi suffered a broken forearm while in action for PSV in mid-January but made a scoring return to action this weekend and is keen to move to the Premier League for next season. Fulham were close to agreeing a fee in the region of €37 million ($43.9 million) in January transfer window, but the deal was contingent on PSV finding a replacement, which they could not do.
– Arsenal are ready to send 19-year-old left back Myles Lewis-Skelly on loan ahead of next season, reports Football Insider. The England international has started just one game in the league since January and has found himself behind Piero Hincapié and Riccardo Calafiori after a breakthrough campaign last season. Everton are reported to be interested in bringing him in on a temporary basis.
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OTHER RUMORS
– Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is emerging as a standout summer option for Manchester United. (Ekrem Konur)
– Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, 28, is on the shortlist of Manchester United. (Caught Offside)
– Newcastle United are showing interest in Bournemouth midfielder Marcus Tavernier, who is also wanted by Manchester United. (TEAMtalk)
– Arsenal intend to make Ecuador defender Piero Hincapié‘s loan move permanent for €52 million in June. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Newcastle want to sign Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke. (Daily Mail)
– Netherlands international midfielder Xavi Simons could leave Tottenham Hotspur in the summer. (Nicolo Schira)
– Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle, Inter Milan, Bayern and Dortmund are battling to sign Al Ittihad winger Moussa Diaby. (Fussball-Daten)
– Callum Wilson has agreed to sign a one-year contract extension at West Ham United. The 34-year-old striker is now expected to stay at the club until June 2027. (Telegraph)
– Atlético Madrid chiefs are divided over whether they should make Nicolás González‘s loan transfer from Juventus permanent. The Spanish giants can do so for €32 million this summer. (Calciomercato)
– AC Milan are weighing up a move for Manchester City defender Nathan Aké. The Netherlands international could be available for a cut-price transfer fee, with his current deal expiring in 2027. (Calciomercato)
– Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Rocco Reitz, 23, has reached an agreement to join RB Leipzig. (Sky Germany)
– Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli is getting closer to extending his contract at the club, after rejecting the advances of several Premier League sides. (Nicolo Schira)
– Atlético Madrid are keen on signing Bayer Leverkusen youngster Ibrahim Maza, who could be available for around €35 million. (Ekrem Konur)
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