2026 UNC Football Preview w/ Phil Steele | Inside Carolina Interviews | College Football

Now in its 32nd year, Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is widely considered ‘the Bible of College Football’. Steele joins Inside Carolina’s Tommy Ashley and Spencer Haskell to highlight the process of covering every FBS school with extensive analysis in the transfer portal era as well as his method of scouting and ranking throughout nation. Steele shares his thoughts on the 2026 Tar Heels, the schedule and his predictions for year two of the Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill. 0:00 - Show begins 0:59 - Previews in the portal era 3:01 - 32 years in the business
 4:22 - The analysis process
 6:19 - UNC - A tough task 9:33 - The Petrino factor
 11:46 - Is it just coaching ball?
 12:30 - The 2026 UNC schedule - why it’s tough
 14:50 - Starting fast a must
 16:00 - A peak at TCU
 18:03 - Trying to figure out UNC’s program
 20:15 - Is the schedule really that tough?
 22:40 - What’s success for Carolina? 24:06 - Where do the Heels wind up?
 27:47 - Tommy and Spencer wrap it up
 Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With a new staff in place, UNC basketball fans might think the summer would be a fairly quiet time around the Smith Center. While there haven’t been any traditional practices yet, the next iteration of the program continues to take shape, as Sherrell McMillan, Sean Moran and Joey Powell discuss on this week’s show. There’s a lot to discuss. Michael Malone’s staff has been circling the globe recruiting while the 2026-27 players have been matriculating to Chapel Hill this summer. The No. 1-ranked player in the country, CJ Rosser, visited UNC this past week. Malone has reportedly hired the last major piece of his staff, in Gonzaga’s Jorge Sanz, and the staff has made new and important scholarship offers in the 2027 class, including intriguing lead guard Navorro Bowman Jr. The Coast to Coast is delivered by Salvio's Pizzeria. http://salviospizza.com. Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

North Carolina second baseman Gavin Gallaher sat down with Inside Carolina's Spencer Haskell and Tommy Ashley to discuss his reasoning for returning to Chapel Hill for his senior season at UNC and much more. Gallaher discusses his approach to being a captain for the Diamond Heels, his hectic summer so far and the areas of improvement he needs to make heading into 2027.  Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com  Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

College quarterbacks are the most watched - and most important - players on the football field and in Chapel Hill, in 2026, all eyes will be on the offensive backfield in Bobby Petrino's first season as North Carolina offensive coordinator. Inside Carolina football analyst Jason Staples joins Tommy Ashley to break down the important room and offer his take on the superlatives of the group. Billy Ediwards, Jr., Miles O'Neill and Au'Tori Newkirk will compete for playing time when camp opens on July 30th. *New Sponsor: ZenAI - start your vibecasting now at http://bit.ly/zenAI_bpp_unc Go to Zen.AI to join the waitlist today for a chance at early access. Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports. **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tommy Ashley, Monty Taylor, and Spencer Haskell discuss the North Carolina baseball team's summer activities and prospects for the 2027 season. They highlight the impact of Gavin Gallaher's return and incoming shortstop Jamie Laskofski. They also discuss the importance of culture and leadership within the team, emphasizing the role of players like Gallaher. The conversation covers the depth and talent in the infield, outfield, and the deep pitching staff.  They also touch on the competitive nature of the catcher position and the potential for new recruits to contribute significantly. Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com  Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside Carolina basketball analyst Rob Harrington joins Tommy Ashley for another episode of Rob's Summer Series - this week the discussion turns to a second area of potential concern for the Tar Heels - rebounding. Carolina's two best rebounders - Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar - headed for the NBA this summer leaving behind Jarin Stevenson and a talented but unproven group in Michael Malone's first season in Chapel Hill.  Harrington and Ashley discuss Stevenson's potential impact and improvement and his teammates across the lineup that will need to collectively step up this season for the program to get back on track to consistent national relevance. Today's Sponsor: ZenAI - start your vibecasting now at http://bit.ly/zenAI_bpp_unc - Go to Zen.AI to join the waitlist today for a chance at early access. Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The ACC Kickoff signifies the official start of the 2026 conference football season as Bill Belichick and members of his second team in Chapel Hill took to the stage on Friday afternoon in Charlotte. Inside Carolina's senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley for a quick discussion of the day's happenings and how the Tar Heels have approached this offseason. This year saw the fanfare of the 2025 event muted as Belichick's arrival in year two appeared more comfortable for the coach and those in attendance. Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside Carolina football analyst Jason Staples joins host Tommy Ashley for a review of his UNC player scouting reports - this episode featuring the wide receivers and the superlatives of the position group. Staples discusses the Alpha, the Breakout, Mr. Consistency and the Time to Prove It players that will man the wide receiver positions in new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino's offense in Bill Belichick's second season at North Carolina. *New Sponsor: ZenAI - start your vibecasting now at http://bit.ly/zenAI_bpp_unc Go to Zen.AI to join the waitlist today for a chance at early access. Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports. **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's Sponsor: ZenAI - start your vibecasting now at http://bit.ly/zenAI_bpp_unc - Go to Zen.AI to join the waitlist today for a chance at early access. Inside Carolina's football recruiting expert Don Callahan joins host Tommy Ashley to highlight North Carolina's 2027 commitment list on the offensive side of the ball.  Callahan breaks down each current commit with details on the recruitment and what each player will bring to the table for Bill Belichick's team in the future. Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside Carolina basketball analyst Rob Harrington joins host Tommy Ashley for a comprehensive look at North Carolina's team shooting across Michael Malone's first roster in Chapel Hill.  Harrington highlights the key players - Terrance Brown, Neo Avdalas, Matt Able and Jarin Stevenson among them - as well as others that can contribute behind the three point line this season.  What are the keys to success? What percentage signifies probable success on the court for UNC and how the importance of solid outside shooting is to today's game as well as how Malone's potential style of play will translate across the offense for the Heels in 2026-27.   New Sponsor: ZenAI - start your vibecasting now at http://bit.ly/zenAI_bpp_unc Go to Zen.AI to join the waitlist today for a chance at early access. Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.” **Call to Action:**  **Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!  **Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!  **Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.