By the time Clemson and North Carolina started the second half, all that was visible throughout Kenan Stadium was the baby Carolina blue. That’s because nearly every seat was empty. The Tar Heels had taken a first-half beatdown, trailing 35-3, and fans had seen enough.
Things got so bad during the broadcast that ESPN went to a commercial break with an interview featuring a UNC student describing how miserable the experience had been, going back to the TCU game.
“TCU was… I went to that game,” the UNC student said. “And that was, that was one of the saddest feelings I’ve had in University so far. I’ve failed midterms before, so that’s saying something.”
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, who had been struggling leading into Week 6, was 21 of 23 for 251 yards and four touchdowns at halftime, looking every bit like the Heisman Trophy candidate he was once projected to be. The reality, however, was that the Tar Heels’ defense was awful, allowing 367 total yards and 14 first downs.
Dave Portnoy Wanted Bill Belichick to Leave At Halftime
Things were so bad for Bill Belichick and UNC in the first half that high-profile voices such as Barstool Sports founder and Fox Sports’ “Big Noon Kickoff” co-host Dave Portnoy were calling for the former Patriots coach to walk out at the break.
“I would not hold it against Belichick if he just quit at halftime and was never seen again. Somebody has to get him the hell out of college football asap,” Portnoy posted on X.
The game against the Tigers was undoubtedly another bad look for Belichick in his first attempt as a college coach. While few expected the Tar Heels to beat the ACC preseason favorite, no one thought it would be this lopsided. The product North Carolina has put on the field week after week is far from the expectations a multi-time Super Bowl-winning coach was supposed to deliver.
Bill Belichick Is Getting Outscored at Rapid Pace at UNC
UNC has managed to handle lesser opponents in Charlotte and Richmond, but once the schedule turned to Power Four competition, the results have gotten ugly.
Against those Group of Five opponents, the Tar Heels outscored them 61-9. Against TCU, UCF and now Clemson (at halftime), UNC has been outscored 117-26 in less than 10 quarters, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.
“The Tar Heels just look so lost, like they’re getting worse each time out,” Feldman said.
To make matters worse, no Tar Heels team in the last eight years had suffered defeats this bad until Belichick’s three losses, according to CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah.
“Assuming this holds, Bill Belichick is about to have as many 25-point losses in three power games as UNC had in its last 76 before Chapel Bill, a period of eight years,” Jeyarajah said.
The question now is whether Belichick and his reconstructed UNC roster can win again, with all remaining games in ACC play. Mercifully, the Tar Heels will be off next week for a bye, but then they’ll alternate home and road contests the rest of the season.
Their best chance may come when they host 2-3 Stanford, setting up a matchup between former NFL head coaches. The Cardinal are led by Frank Reich.
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