CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — It was close for a quarter before the wheels came off for Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels. TCU quarterback Josh Hoover threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, the Horned Frogs rushed for 243 yards and scored twice on defense to highlight Monday night’s 48-14 drubbing inside Kenan Stadium.
North Carolina opened the game with an impressive scoring drive, including a pair of nice throws from South Alabama transfer quarterback Gio Lopez, before the rest of the contest was a frustrating effort on that side of the football. Empty possessions, an errant toss that went for points the other ways and multiple fumbles dictated a shaky night for the Tar Heels.
No Belichick-coached team had ever given up 48 points, and it was the most the Tar Heels had allowed in a season opener. It’s back to the drawing board for a team filled with newcomers and transfer portal additions, while the Horned Frogs look like a legitimate contender near the top of the Big 12.
Read on below for takeaways from TCU’s rout over North Carolina as Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs humiliated Bill Belichick in his coaching debut at North Carolina.