North Carolina basketball is hosting Duke to close out the regular season on Saturday as is tradition, with the Blue Devils entering the game as a top-five team while the Tar Heels are battling on the bubble.
Facing an uphill battle, North Carolina deployed some big names from their football team on “College GameDay” on ESPN. Of course, new Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick was on hand in his first experience witnessing Duke vs. UNC as a Tar Heel. However, ESPN also had NFL Hall-of-Famer and former North Carolina football star Lawrence Taylor make a special appearance.
Here’s a closer look at what the NFL legends are expecting from the latest chapter of this storied rivalry.
Bill Belichick, Lawrence Taylor add to Duke vs. UNC hype
Belichick called Taylor the best defensive player in NFL history, something he has done in the past, while Taylor hyped up the North Carolina crowd.
“I’m looking for Carolina to kick some a– today,” Taylor said.
“I’m looking for Carolina to kick some a– today.” 😂
UNC alum Lawrence Taylor didn’t hold back on his thoughts about Duke in front of Bill Belichick 👀 pic.twitter.com/MDhHqfYmDS
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) March 8, 2025
While Belichick is building the latest version of the Tar Heels on the gridiron, he also discussed bringing back legends from the past to inspire the stars of tomorrow.
North Carolina enters the game 20-11 and 13-6 in conference play, while Duke is 27-3 and 18-1 in ACC play. The Tar Heels likely need to beat the Blue Devils to secure a spot in March Madness, while Duke is headed for a No. 1 seed in the tournament.
Bill Belichick-Lawrence Taylor relationship, explained
For a decade, Bill Belichick worked for the Giants in a variety of roles, including as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Belichick was the special teams coach and linebackers coach in 1981, when New York drafted Taylor out of North Carolina.
Belichick coached Taylor from 1981-90, which included two Super Bowl championships in Super. Bowls 21 and 25. In that span, Taylor made 10-straight pro bowls, eight First-Team All-Pros, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and one Defensive Rookie of the Year awards.
When is Duke vs. UNC?
- Date: March 8
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Duke-UNC is set to tip off at around 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, with Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas on the call.
Previously this season, Duke beat North Carolina in 87-70 in Durham, and the Blue Devils have won seven-straight games and 23 of their last 24 overall.
How to watch UNC-Duke today
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Sling
UNC vs. Duke will air live on ESPN, with Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Jess Sims (reporter) on the call.
Viewers can also stream the game live on Sling, the home for the avid sports fan. You can always cheer for your favorite teams with channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, FS1 and more.