Predicting UNC's 2026 Football Season | Inside Carolina | College Football

Progress is mandatory in Bill Belichick's second season as head coach of North Carolina football.  But what is progress?  Clearly, the win total must exceed last year's four wins - regardless of how tough the schedule is perceived to be in 2026. Is that the only barometer?  Does the money spent for coaching positions justify the level of expectations for the fanbase?  The administration?  Inside Carolina's senior reporter Greg Barnes join Tommy Ashley to discuss all aspects of Carolina Football progress and what areas of progress are necessary this season. While the answers are not as simple as they seem up front, when it comes down to the final judgement on the season and Belichick's second year in Chapel Hill, wins and losses will likely be everything for those that follow the Tar Heels. 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.

Exclusively for Inside Carolina listeners/viewers, get a free sample pack LMNT with any purchase when you use this link. Carolina kicks off the 2026 in less than two weeks as the Tar Heels face TCU in Ireland. After a bad year in 2025 and an off the field circus that matched the poor play on the field, the national narrative - and frankly much of the fanbase narrative - is that year two of the Bill Belichick era will not be much better than year one. What is driving that narrative?  Is it the collapse of last season?  The schedule?  The general dislike to the whole Belichick experiment? Inside Carolina senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley to discuss those questions and more in the first IC Daily of the new season. 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.

One of the more popular topics among the Inside Carolina message board community has always been high school recruiting. Sherrell McMillan and Rob Harrington have been following prep prospects for decades, and in this special episode, they pull back the curtain on some of the most fascinating stories surrounding popular recruitments at UNC. AAU Circuit hilarity, official visit awkwardness, the blue-chipper that you wanted all along...they're all fair game for discussion. Enjoy this very unique version of the Coast to Coast Podcast. 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.

FLASH SALE: Get 75% off an Inside Carolina subscription! Join today - http://www.InsideCarolina.com As we close in on two weeks before North Carolina meets TCU in Ireland to open the 2026 football season, Inside Carolina's football expert Jason Staples joins Tommy Ashley to break down the third media availability practice for Bill Belichick's second squad. Staples and Ashley highlight the offensive line with Shaq McRoy standing out and the quarterbacks with Miles O'Neill, Billy Edwards, Jr. and Travis Burgess getting the majority of the reps in the open viewing session. Finally, the IC duo discuss the receivers and defense and highlight the improved physical shape of the team as a whole and the options around the field on both sides of the ball. 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.

FLASH SALE: Get 75% off an Inside Carolina subscription! Join today - http://www.InsideCarolina.com The Inside Carolina crew goes live to make their predictions for North Carolina's 2026 football schedule. Buck Sanders, Greg Barnes, and Jason Staples join Greg Barnes for a comprehensive look at Carolina's schedule including game by game breakdowns and their picks across the board for the full season - including the Tar Pit Premium message board community picks. Following the selection portion of the show, the discussion turns to floors and ceilings of the Tar Heel season and what 'improvement' looks like for the program in Bill Belichick's second year. 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.

FLASH SALE: Get 75% off an Inside Carolina subscription! Join today - http://www.InsideCarolina.com With the commitment of big man Cameron Fens, North Carolina's basketball roster finally appears set for the 2026-27 season - Michael Malone's first year in Chapel Hill as head many of the Tar Heels. Continuing with his Inside Carolina summer series, Inside Carolina basketball analyst Rob Harrington joins host Tommy Ashley for an overview of the full UNC roster, from Fens to Brown, Stevenson to Samodurov, Brizzi to Denis and every player that fills out the squad. 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.

Cameron Fens, a 7-foot, 255-pound center from South Dakota, recently  granted an extra year of eligibility, has committed to Michael Malone and the North Carolina Tar Heels. The quick recruitment process was facilitated by Chuck Martin's pre-existing relationship with Fens' agent. Fens' physical presence and post play skills, provides size, strength and versatility to the Heels interior and solidifies the roster heading into the school year. Coast to Coast is sponsored by Salvio's Pizzeria. 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.

FLASH SALE: Get 75% off an Inside Carolina subscription! Join today - http://www.InsideCarolina.com Inside Carolina football analyst Jason Staples joins Tommy Ashley to discuss the second day of media availability for North Carolina football practice. Staples and Ashley highlight the quarterback room's potential, with Billy Edwards, Jr. appearing to be currently atop the depth chart, though accuracy issues are a concern for the room so far in camp. On the defensive side of the ball, Staples notes the early starters with Tre Miller and Peyton Waters getting first team reps as field corner and boundary safety, respectively.  The emphasis and the importance of speed and athleticism, particularly in the secondary, is highlighted by the players and combinations on the field for the early reps. 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 UNC's 2026 season just three weeks away, Inside Carolina's football recruiting expert Don Callahan joins Tommy Ashley for a look the Tar Heels 2027 recruiting class that is nearly completion in Bill Belichick's second year in Chapel Hill. Callahan and Ashley highlight the defensive side of the ball this week with a breakdown of the defensive line, linebacker and secondary commitments as well as discuss what are the remaining numbers for this class - especially after the 2026 class was double the normal class size. Yea  Finally, the IC duo offers their top five home games this season that will provide the best opportunities for Belichick and staff to host potential 2028 recruits. FLASH SALE: Get 75% off an Inside Carolina subscription! Join today - http://www.InsideCarolina.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.

As Steve Newmark assumed the reins of Athletic Director for the University of North Carolina, the landscape of college athletics continued to shift and alter appearances virtually daily in the ramp up to another academic and athletic year in Chapel Hill. Newmark’s background outside of collegiate sports is well documented but his experience in other realms have him poised to navigate this new era for UNC. Inside Carolina’s senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley for a glimpse into Newmark’s approach to his new position, the points he’s made in interviews and meetings and decisions he has made and will need to continue to make for Carolina to remain near the pinnacle of college athletics. FLASH SALE: Get 75% off an Inside Carolina subscription! Join today - http://www.InsideCarolina.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.