What's next for Bill Belichick and UNC? How Tar Heels can get back on track after ugly loss to TCU

Just a few minutes in, Monday's battle between North Carolina and TCU looked like it might be a re-run of the Horned Frogs' season-opening loss to Deion Sanders and Colorado from 2023.

TCU got punched in the mouth by a Tar Heels team with its own high-profile coach making his debut, but this time, the Horned Frogs answered back forcefully. Sonny Dykes' squad scored 41 consecutive points, wearing down North Carolina's defense and holding UNC QB Gio Lopez without a completion for more than two full hours. 

Whether the 48-14 final score is more the product of a better-than-expected TCU team or North Carolina's talent level remains to be seen, but it's clear Bill Belichick has work to do to get his Tar Heels anywhere close to ACC contention in his first season as a collegiate head coach.

Here's a look at what might come next for Belichick and North Carolina, including a glimpse of the Tar Heels' upcoming schedule. 

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What's next for North Carolina?

There is no simple fix for North Carolina after both sides of the ball unraveled against TCU, but the schedule is helpful. The Tar Heels first face a Charlotte team that was blown out in its home city by Appalachian State in Week 1 before taking on FCS Richmond. While nothing is a given, both of those games will be great opportunities for Belichick to work out some of his team's most glaring issues.

What are those issues? The quarterback position matters more than anything, and it might be Max Johnson's chance to prove he's the best option on the roster. With Lopez leaving the game in significant pain on Monday and Johnson holding his own (albeit with the game already out of reach), the former LSU and Texas A&M QB should be in line for a start and the opportunity to claim the job on a full-time basis.

Mobility is a major concern for Johnson after his devastating injury last season, so the offensive game plan will have to change, and pressure will shift to running backs Caleb Hood and Benjamin Hall to establish the running game with Johnson unable to run much.

North Carolina can, should and likely will win its next two games with competent quarterback play, even if the defense lags behind. The defense will have to be better for the Tar Heels to stay competitive against Clemson or even UCF and California. TCU recorded 542 yards of offense on Monday and gained 29 first downs to UNC's 10, allowing zero sacks.

North Carolina's run defense can live with giving up one big play to Kevorian Barnes, but the pass defense was persistently beaten by Josh Hoover. Eight different TCU players caught a pass in the first three quarters, and the one interception of Hoover was largely the result of an overthrown pass. Even with the game out of reach, poor tackling allowed TCU to tack on another touchdown and nearly score again before the Horned Frogs let up after the two-minute warning. 

Belichick is a defensive-minded coach. One would have to imagine a nearly brand new defense will get better over time as it works with the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach, even if the physical traits up front just aren't there.

With Charlotte, Richmond and UCF next on the schedule, Belichick may have an entire month to work with his defense before the unit faces another semi-prolific offense -- that time and a couple confidence-building wins should quiet concerns about where the Tar Heels are headed.

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UNC football schedule 

North Carolina faces Charlotte, Richmond and UCF before starting its ACC schedule against Clemson on Oct. 4. The matchup is sandwiched by two bye weeks and is followed by a battle with California's true freshman QB Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele on Oct. 17.

The Tar Heels avoid Miami, Florida State and SMU on their ACC schedule, leaving Clemson as their toughest challenge by a wide margin.