We're just days away from the start of the college football season, as all eyes are on Bill Belichick and the UNC football program as they head to Ireland to take on the TCU Horned Frogs.
While we're all anxious to see what this year's team is capable of doing, the current projections and rankings tend to believe that the Tar Heels won't be very good this season. In an effort to see where the Tar Heels stand, we teamed up with EA Sports College Football 27, the popular video game series, to run a simulated season for UNC.
We give you fair warning: Tar Heel fans definitely won't love the outcome, but they will be thrilled with one big win that UNC was able to pull off!
Week 0
For the second consecutive season, UNC got our hopes up in the season opener!
The Tar Heels started out the game on fire, scoring back-to-back touchdowns on their first two drives to take a 14-0 lead through the first quarter of action.
Unfortunately, it was all TCU for the final three quarters.
North Carolina was outscored 37-14 over the final three quarters, returning back to the United States with an 0-1 record.
The good news was that Billy Edwards Jr. had a strong debut, throwing for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jordan Shipp led the way with 9 catches for 102 yards, while Demon June rushed for 123 yards on the ground.
Week 2
Following the bye week, UNC returned to Chapel Hill and secured their first victory of the 2026 season.
This game was dominated by the run game, as June and Benjamin Hall combined for 216 rushing yards and three scores.
Week 3
Do you believe in miracles? YES!
The most shocking result of the 2026 season came at Clemson, a game that Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels absolutely STOLE from the Tigers.
Not much defense was played in this game, as the teams combined for 839 yards of total offense. North Carolina fought back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and an Aeron Burrell 37-yard field goal sealed the deal in extra time.
Week 5
After such a big win over Clemson, UNC couldn't build momentum when Notre Dame rolled into town two weeks later.
The Fighting Irish essentially took Shipp out of the equation, holding him to just three catches for 21 yards. Trech Kekahuna had a breakout performance, hauling in seven receptions for 123 yards. While UNC had plenty of opportunities, two failed fourth-down conversions in the second half came back to haunt the Tar Heels.
Week 6
The trip to Pittsburgh wasn't a fun one for UNC, as they couldn't stop the No. 15-ranked Panthers' offensive attack.
While the defense couldn't stop a nosebleed, Edwards Jr. played catch with the opposing defense. The Tar Heels quarterback threw four interceptions in an outing he definitely doesn't want to remember.
Week 7
Do we even need to talk about this one?
UNC held a 13-3 lead at the half, but the offense went silent over the final two quarters. While North Carolina went cold offensively, Duke got into a rhythm, scoring three second-half touchdowns to defend their home field.
Week 8
Syracuse was able to run the football at will, as two running backs surpassed the 100-yard mark.
When you're running the ball at will, why would you do anything different?
Week 9
Halloween was a scary day for UNC as a hurricane swept through Chapel Hill, crushing the Tar Heels. The Hurricanes went up 21-0 in a blink of an eye and never looked back, putting together a statement win for the No. 7-ranked team in the land.
Week 10
A WIN!
Dan Hurley wasn't coaching, but even he was screaming somewhere on campus as the Huskies lost to the Tar Heels.
Demon June was the star of the game, scoring four touchdowns while recording 135 all purpose yards to carry the offense.
Week 11
Back to life... back to reality.
UNC went down 21-7 by the time halftime rolled around, but found a way to make things interesting. A Kaleb Cost fumble recovery for a touchdown tied the game up at 21 midway through the third quarter, but Louisville responded right back with back-to-back touchdown drives. In an offensive slugfest, the Cardinals were simply too much for UNC to handle.
Week 12
North Carolina had a great chance to play "spoilers" against the No. 12-ranked Virginia Cavaliers, but their quest for an upset fell just short.
After Virginia drove down the field on a 9-play, 76-yard drive, UNC had 1:02 seconds on the clock to work with. With no time outs remaining, UNC came up short on fourth down on Virginia's 31-yard line, sealing the deal in this heartbreaking loss.
Week 13
Again, do we have to even discuss this one?
NC State came into Chapel Hill and spoiled 'Senior Day,' another game the Tar Heels defense allowed a game-winning drive in the late stages of the fourth quarter.
Final Record
Overall: 3-9
ACC: 1-7
Bill Belichick's hot seat: RED HOT
Add us as a preferred source on Google