Instant Analysis: TCU Steals Season-Opening Spotlight, Slams UNC

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The curtain went up for North Carolina’s first act under the direction of Bill Belichick, and what followed unraveled into a season-opening disaster.

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TCU trounced the Tar Heels 48-14 in a beatdown Monday night at Kenan Stadium, stealing the spotlight and spoiling the NFL all-time great’s coaching debut on the college football level.

UNC roared out of the gate and led 7-0 on the strength of a surgical 83-yard march, capped by Caleb Hood’s 8-yard touchdown run. And the electricity was jolting around this place as Roy Williams, flanked by Michael Jordan and Lawrence Taylor — a veritable Mt. Rushmore of Carolina sports icons — showed their approval among the packed house.

But the promise of that opening drive to kick off the 2025 season cracked and splintered and plunged into free-fall from there. And given the anticipation and excitement in play here, this became a resounding dud for the Tar Heels, who lost starting quarterback Gio Lopez to a back injury in the second half.

TCU quarterback Josh Hoover threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, Kevorian Barnes ran for 113 yards and a touchdown, and Jordan Dwyer supplied nine catches for 136 yards and a score, while the Horned Frogs rolled. They outgained the Tar Heels 542-222.

TCU led 20-7 by halftime, and Barnes promptly started the second half with a 75-yard touchdown burst, a breakaway during which he went untouched. Soon thereafter, Trent Battle’s 28-yard touchdown run and Devean Deal’s 37-yard fumble return — when Lopez was sacked and coughed up a fumble — put the Frogs ahead 41-7, and had Hoover delightedly prancing along his own sideline.

The transfer Lopez proved one of the best quarterbacks on the Group of Five level at South Alabama. But his first game here at UNC wasn’t productive. He finished 4-of-10 for 69 passing yards, and coughed up two turnovers, both of which TCU returned for touchdowns. Backup quarterback Max Johnson entered in the third quarter when Lopez left with the injury. An in-game report from ESPN’s sideline reporter had Lopez collapsing and screaming in the tunnel after he hobbled to the Tar Heels’ locker room.

TCU Takes Control in First Half

Kyle Lemmermann’s second field goal of the night, this one from 33 yards, connected as the first half expired, and TCU took a 20-7 lead into the halftime locker room. Carolina was searching by that juncture, having lost all the early momentum from its roaring start, as the Frogs scored 20 unanswered points.

TCU quarterback Josh Hoover operated from lots of clean pockets in the first half. He was 20-of-25 for 193 yards by halftime, an 80-percent completion rate, all which of dwarfed UNC quarterback Gio Lopez’s first-half numbers (2-of-6 for 58 yards). The Frogs had outgained UNC 247-103 in total yards and led 16-4 in first downs when the first half ended.

Earlier, Hoover dropped a 27-yard touchdown pass over the top to Jordan Dwyer, who beat the Tar Heels’ Marcus Allen on the route. That pulled TCU even on the scoreboard at 7-7 in the first quarter, and helped the Frogs begin to yank the momentum away from UNC.

Takeaway Then Giveaway for Tar Heels

In the final 5½ minutes of the first half, the Tar Heels came up with what felt like an important takeaway in the red zone. Kaleb Cost reeled in an interception on a third-and-4, with TCU having reached UNC’s 17-yard line. Hoover’s throw bounced off a receiver’s hands there, and Cost, the former outfielder for the Tar Heels in baseball, had the awareness and hands to grab the interception.

But Carolina gave it right back three plays later, when TCU’s Bud Clark jumped a Lopez throw for an interception. And he breezed in from 25 yards for a touchdown, as the Frogs jumped ahead 17-7. Clark, one of the better safeties in college football, read that situation the whole way, with Lopez trying to force a throw to Shipp, who was UNC’s only player to catch a pass during the first half.

Next on the Schedule

UNC must navigate the short week and quick turnaround leading into Saturday night’s matchup, a road assignment against Charlotte at Richardson Stadium, where the largest on-campus crowd in the school’s brief football history is expected. Charlotte officials are adding extra seating on the stadium concourse above the 49ers’ student section, in preparation for the turnout. The Tar Heels will be playing their first road game under Bill Belichick.

UNC won 38-20 last season, in the first-ever football matchup between the programs. Conner Harrell accounted for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) that September day here at Kenan Stadium, while Davion Gause ran for 105 yards and another score to propel the Tar Heels. Now, Harrell is Charlotte’s starting quarterback, and among a number of former Carolina players the 49ers have picked up through the transfer portal.

Charlotte fell 34-11 to Appalachian State three nights ago in a season-opening loss at Bank of America Stadium. The 49ers are under new coach Tim Albin, who replaced the fired Biff Poggi. Albin spent the previous four seasons as the head man at Ohio. Poggi didn’t last two full seasons in charge of the Charlotte program.