UNC vs. TCU live score, updates, highlights from Bill Belichick’s college football debut

By | September 1, 2025
0 Comment

JUMP TO:

As the College Football season begins, very few teams are quite as intriguing as North Carolina.

The Tar Heels made the biggest acquisition of the offseason, hiring legendary  NFL mind Bill Belichick to be their new head coach. The former Patriots leader spent the 2024 season as part of the media but chose to get back into coaching at the college level in 2025.

North Carolina is unranked to open the season, as the program is coming off a 6-7 season. Under previous head coach Mack Brown, the Tar Heels made six-straight Bowl Games and had four winning seasons, but the program plateaued a bit after a slow start.

Quarterback Gio Lopez is the big player to follow for North Carolina. The South Alabama transfer went 6-5 as a starter, throwing for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns while starting 11 games for the Jaguars last season.

STREAM: Watch UNC vs. TCU live with Fubo (free trial)

On the the other side, TCU is looking to continue its solid play from 2024. The Horned Frogs went 9-4 last year and are now 27-13 overall under head coach Sonny Dykes.

Quarterback Josh Hoover returns for his second full season as a starter, as the 21-year-old has started 19 games for TCU since 2023. In 2024, Hoover produced 3,949 passing yards and 27 touchdowns while throwing 11 interceptions.

The Sporting News is tracking live scores, updates and highlights from Bill Belichick’s first game as UNC’s head coach against TCU. Follow along for full updates.

UNC vs. TCU football score

NCAAF HQ: Live college football scores | Updated Top 25 rankings | Full 2025-26 schedule

UNC vs. TCU live updates, highlights from Bill Belichick’s college debut

TCU 10, UNC 7

8:56 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! TCU gets its first lead of the game.

8:54 p.m.: Jordan Dwyer is getting the better of Marcus Allen on the outside, but Dwyer’s pass interference is too much for TCU to overcome. A promising TCU drive will end in a field goal attempts.

8:52 p.m.: Hoover gets another 10 yards on a pass to to his tight end DJ Rogers as TCU is now in the red zone.

8:49 p.m.: TCU RB Kevorian Barnes is finding running room on the ground as the Horned Frogs continue to move the ball down the field.

End of first quarter: UNC 7, TCU 7

8:43 p.m.: Hoover is finding success through the air as he throws for another first down. He has completed seven of his first eight pass attempts.

8:41 p.m.: TCU have taken control of this game as UNC goes three-and-out with two failed runs and an incomplete pass.

UNC 7, TCU 7

8:36 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Hoover finds Jordan Dwyer for a 27-yard score after establishing the run earlier in the drive.

8:33 p.m.: UNC corner Marcus Allen commits a pass interference on a TCU wide receiver to jumpstart the drive.

8:27 p.m.: The Tar Heels offense looks much different on the second drive as the unit kept going backwards. A TCU sack on Gio Lopez on second down essentially ended the drive as UNC punts.

8:21 p.m.: UNC’s defense stifles TCU with an incomplete pass on third down to force a punt on the drive.

8:19 p.m.: TCU’s Josh Hoover finds Eric McAlister for a first down on the Horned Frogs’ first play on offense.

UNC 7, TCU 0

8:14 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! What a drive by UNC as Caleb Hood scores the opening points. Hood had 35 yards on three carries on the opening drive.

8:12 p.m.: Gio Lopez finds Jordan Shipp deep down the field as UNC is now within TCU’s 30-yard-line just minutes into the game.

8:10 p.m.: UNC begins the game with two runs that culminate in a first down as the Tar Heels look to get momentum going.

8:09 p.m.: We are underway from Chapel Hill! UNC gets the ball to open the game.

8:00 p.m.: Three of ESPN’s talking heads are going with UNC tonight, while Desmond Howard is picking TCU to win.

7:50 p.m.: Michael Jordan and Lawrence Taylor have both made it to Chapel Hill for the game.

7:30 p.m.: ESPN’s pregame show spoke about how Belichick will impact college football.

7:10 p.m.: It appears Belichick changed into his signature sleeveless hoodie before the game.

6:50 p.m.: Belichick has brought some of his typical tricks with him to Chapel Hill, including not revealing his depth chart to the media.

6:20 p.m.: Tar Heel fans showed out big time for the first Old Well Walk of the season.

6:05 p.m.: North Carolina is certainly leaning into Belichick’s fame ahead of the first game.

5:45 p.m.: Bill Belichick has arrived to the stadium waering what appears to be a jacket instead of his typical hoodie sweatshirt.

5:30 p.m.: Belichick’s debut is a big moment in North Carolina football history, so many celebrities are expected to be in attendance.

5:10 p.m.: North Carolina is pumped for its first season under Bill Belichick, as the program posted a hype video on social media.

MORE BILL BELICHICK NEWS:

How to watch Bill Belichick’s college coaching debut

UNC vs. TCU start time

  • Date: Monday, September 1
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT

Bill Belichick’s North Carolina debut will close out Week 1. It is the only game of the night and the final game of the first full week of the 2025 College Football season.

What channel is UNC vs. TCU on today?

  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Live Stream: Fubo

ESPN will broadcast UNC vs. TCU, as Rece Davis and Kirk Herbstreit will be on the call for the game. Those looking for an alternate viewing option can use Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

UNC football schedule 2025

Here a look at North Carolina’s first five games of the 2025 season.

Date Opponent Time (ET) TV Channel
9/1 vs. TCU 8:00 p.m. ESPN
9/6 @ Charlotte 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
9/13 vs. Richmond 3:30 p.m. ACC Netword
9/20 @ UCF TBD TBD
10/4 vs. Clemson TBD TBD

TCU football schedule 2025

Here’s how TCU will open the college football season in 2025.

Date Opponent Time TV Channel
9/1 @ North Carolina 8:00 p.m. ESPN
9/13 vs. Abilene Christian 8:00 p.m. ESPN+
9/20 vs. SMU TBD TBD
9/26 @ Arizona State 9:00 p.m. FOX
10/4 vs. Colorado TBD TBD

Source