Expectations are understandably high for the Tar Heels—Belichick has so many Super Bowl rings he needs both hands to wear them. But it’s not just football fans who are holding North Carolina to a high standard this year.

Of course, TCU was also the season opener for Sanders’ first season at Colorado in 2022. The Buffaloes wound up winning that game 45-42, thrusting the program into the national spotlight as Coach Prime and Co. took down a team fresh off a national championship berth.

ESPN "College GameDay" headliner Pat McAfee will be joined by Tedy Bruschi, who won three Super Bowls while playing for Belichick on the Patriots from 2000-2008.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Before you know it, college football will be kicking off again, and the Bill Belichick era at UNC will begin with a special visit from ESPN.

North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick attended the ACC Kickoff, the league's annual football preview event, on Thursday.

Amid all the pomp and circumstance that is sure to come with Bill Belichick’s debut as the head coach of North Carolina Tar Heels football, another addition to the pregame festivities has

Like Sanders, Belichick will make his debut at home against TCU. However, this is in primetime as a standalone game on Labor Day in Chapel Hill. That game is set to be broadcast on ESPN. UNC will also be on an ESPN channel for at least two Friday games when they face off against Cal and Syracuse in October.

ESPN isn’t waiting for Bill Belichick to call a single play in Chapel Hill. The network is already stacking the deck in his favor, betting big on the Belichick buzz to deliver a “Prime Effect” level of interest for North Carolina Tar Heels football in 2025.

ESPN has announced a special live pregame show for Bill Belichick ‘s much-anticipated North Carolina coaching debut. While it won’t be College GameDay, many GameDay analysts are heading to Chapel Hill on Labor Day to preview UNC’s season-opening game against TCU.