Bill Belichick and North Carolina secured a 15-10 victory over TCU in Dublin to kick off the 2026 college football season, marking their first halftime lead against a power-conference opponent in Belichick’s tenure. UNC was up 12-10 at the break. But here’s the kicker: for all the fanfare of a new era, that Tar Heels offense barely squeaked by with just 322 yards. After a 2025 season where scoring was tough, you’d hope for more punch. This win absolutely doesn’t change anyone’s real expectations for North Carolina. It was enough for one afternoon, sure, but that “limited offense” is gonna be a massive hurdle moving forward.
Meanwhile, TCU’s opener was a gut punch. Losing to UNC is not the start the Horned Frogs envisioned, especially with their modest hype as a Big 12 threat. Their offense mustered a dismal 281 yards and coughed up two late turnovers on downs in the red zone during a frustrating loss. Sure, it wasn’t a conference game, so their Big 12 hopes aren’t technically dead, but they have a ton more to prove now. Good news is they get an idle weekend before hosting Grambling and Arkansas State, giving them a small window to sort out those early offensive issues before Big 12 play fires up.
On the flip side, some teams came out absolutely firing. No. 14 USC rolled past San Jose State 42-26, exactly what everyone expected. Quarterback Jayden Maiava looked sharp, completing 25-of-29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns. The Trojans racked up a monster 505 total yards, even with San Jose State grabbing two garbage-time scores after USC had a 31-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. If USC is serious about a first-ever College Football Playoff trip, this is how you start: a comfortable, dominant win. Over in the ACC, Virginia straight-up smoked NC State 34-8. After an 11-win campaign in 2025, the Cavaliers looked like serious contenders, and this rout just reinforced that ceiling. Transfer Beau Pribula had an encouraging debut, throwing for 155 yards and running for 110 with two scores. Plus, Virginia’s defense was suffocating, limiting NC State to a measly 168 yards.
This Week 0 action was just the first taste of the season, with FBS debuts for North Dakota State and Sacramento State also happening. For teams like USC and Virginia, it’s about building on those dominant starts. For TCU, they have to use this mini-break to fix that offense before conference play arrives. And for Belichick’s UNC, that victory feels good, but everyone’s watching to see if that offense can find another gear in the coming weeks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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