It's a major story.
David Pollack Reveals What He Expects from Bill Belichick in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Bill Belichick's appointment as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels has become a hot topic this offseason.
Belichick, recognized as one of the most successful head coaches in NFL history, has won a total of eight Super Bowl championships, six as a head coach and two as an assistant. However, this marks his first foray into college football.
This story gained even more attention due to Belichick's 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. A notable incident took place two months ago during an interview Belichick gave on "CBS Sunday Morning," where he discussed his life, his new book and football. Hudson was present during the interview, and when the conversation turned to how the couple met, she quickly interrupted, saying, “We’re not talking about this.”
Belichick later claimed the eight-minute segment that aired did not accurately represent the full 35-minute interview. He told his publicist that he wanted his interviews for the book tour to focus solely on his book. CBS denied these claims.
On "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack," the college football analyst previewed the ACC, focusing specifically on North Carolina's football team. Pollack shared his expectations for the upcoming season.
"UNC with Bill Belichick, I mean, what is he going to be?" Pollack asked. "Who's going to be their quarterback? I know they paid a bunch of money to a kid from (South Alabama), and like that's fine. But, Max Johnson, who's coming back off of injury, if Belichick sits down with him and gets to know that personality. ... I have no clue what to expect from Chapel Bill."
Gio Lopez is expected to be the starter this season. Last year, he threw for 2,559 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions for the South Alabama Jaguars. In his career, Johnson, who broke his leg in the opener last season, has thrown for 5,923 yards, 47 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 31 games for the LSU Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies and North Carolina.
Pollack was asked if he believed North Carolina would perform better than a 3-5 record in the conference and a 6-7 overall record. He expressed uncertainty but indicated that if he had to make a bet, he would say yes.
The primary reason for his prediction is his belief that Belichick prepares exceptionally well. He noted that if a team struggles at the quarterback position, Belichick is adept at exploiting that weakness. Furthermore, he mentioned that even teams with strong quarterbacks can be confused by Belichick's strategies.
ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) has a low outlook on North Carolina and Belichick this season. The FPI predicts a 6-6 finish for the team and gives them only a 1.7% chance of winning the ACC. Additionally, it forecasts that they will finish at No. 9 in the conference.
The Tar Heels will kick off their season with a significant matchup at home against the TCU Horned Frogs at 8 p.m. on Sept. 1.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names Prominent College Football Coach Who is a 'Major Distraction'
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
