UNC has sold out its 20,000-ticket allotment for the upcoming football season despite raising prices by an average of 25%, according to WRAL’s Brian Murphy.
“The most significant uptick we’ve ever had,” UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said.
The ticket sales surge comes as Bill Belichick takes over the Tar Heels program in what will be his first college coaching position.
Belichick’s arrival has energized the fan base despite off-field attention surrounding his relationship with Jordon Hudson.
The former NFL coach brings unprecedented credentials to Chapel Hill, but faces questions about his transition to the college game.
“There have been all sorts of outside-the-box coaching experiments in recent years, but this one — strictly from a football standpoint — might be the most interesting,” ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura wrote. “His arrival in Chapel Hill comes with so many questions. Can he relate to college-aged players? Does his style translate to the college level? How long will he stay? But they really all boil down to one: Will he win?”
ESPN’s 2025 predictions suggest Belichick might not remain at UNC beyond one season.
“The Heels are in the midst of a massive makeover in Year 1 under Belichick, who has never coached in college and is already dealing with his share of off-field spectacle,” ESPN wrote. “Is a 3-9 type of season possible? It certainly won’t be a good look if that’s where the Tar Heels land.”
UNC hasn’t finished with fewer than three wins since going 2-9 under Larry Fedora in 2018.
The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel noted the university may be concerned about the media attention surrounding Belichick’s personal life.
“I can only imagine the narrative if UNC starts 2-4,” Mandel said.
The Tar Heels finished 6-7 last season in Mack Brown’s final year.
With a significant roster rebuild underway, reaching bowl eligibility would mark a successful first season for Belichick at North Carolina.
