It all started out oh so good.
From the electric pregame atmosphere in Chapel Hill to the outstanding opening drive that led to an early touchdown, the UNC football program seemed destined to at least play a competitive game against non-conference foe TCU.
Well, that wasn't the case.
The Horned Frogs went on to score 41 consecutive points en route to a blowout victory over the Bill Belichick led Tar Heels, spoiling his first game coaching at the college level.
After the first drive, a beautifully constructed seven play, 83-yard drive that led to seven points, North Carolina couldn't do anything on either side of the football.
The offense was invisible while the defense made some stops in the red zone but showcased some of the issues we've seen from this unit over the past few seasons.
Overall, it wasn't pretty.
A perfect example came following an impressive acrobatic one-handed interception from Kaleb Cost. Looking to swing the momentum back in their favor, Gio Lopez made a late read, attempting to complete a pass toward the sideline. The pass was intercepted by Bud Clark, who ended up bringing it 25-yards to the house.
Unfortunately, that was the story of the night for North Carolina.
Lopez was forced to leave the game in the third quarter due to injury. He struggled before that, completing only four of 10 passes while turning the ball over twice.
Other than the opening drive, the only other positive for North Carolina came via the return of Max Johnson, capping off a remarkable comeback story to find his way back onto the field.
His first drive back resulted in a very special touchdown for him and the Johnson family.
As disappointing as this is, especially considering all the hype surrounding the UNC football program, it's very important to remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. While we all hoped they'd at least keep it competitive, it's vital to remember that this is a whole new team being guided by a brand-new coaching staff.
While we had little knowledge of what this team was prior to kick-off, we now can officially say they are a work in progress.
TCU is a very good opponent and a very tough challenge for anyone, especially for a team with such turnover. The hope is that this game will help the Tar Heels get better from this point on, as the development aspect will be crucial for this group throughout the rest of the regular season.
For now, chalk it up as a disappointing loss, one that we all hope isn't a recurring issue for the UNC football program this season.