TCU Football: Sonny Dykes on UNC Schedule
Sonny Dykes and TCU face a daunting season opener against Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels, a matchup that has the college football world abuzz. Coach Dykes is meticulously studying New England patriots game film to prepare his team, recognizing the challenge posed by Belichick’s influence and the Tar Heels’ revamped roster, including over 50 new transfer players.Wiht josh Hoover returning after a record-breaking passing season,TCU aims to leverage their veteran experience against a dynamic opponent. News Directory 3 reports the pressure is on. Will TCU’s readiness yield a winning result in this high-stakes, primetime clash? Discover what’s next …
TCU Prepares for Bill Belichick, North Carolina Showdown
Updated May 29, 2025
Orlando, Fla. — TCU head coach Sonny Dykes is diving into New England Patriots game film as his team gears up for their season opener against Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels. Dykes told ESPN that his staff is also studying the University of Washington and other programs to prepare for the Labour Day night showdown.
This marks the second time in as many years that TCU has opened its season against a high-profile coach making his FBS debut. In 2023, it was Deion Sanders and Colorado who upset the Horned Frogs. Dykes joked that the scheduling was “bad,” adding, “Hopefully we’ll fare better than we did last time… but we’ve got a second chance.”
The 2023 loss saw Colorado, led by Shedeur Sanders‘ 510 passing yards, defeat a No.17-ranked TCU team coming off a national championship appearance. Now,the hype surrounds Belichick,the six-time Super bowl champion who took the North Carolina job last December. The Tar Heels haven’t won an ACC title as 1980.
Belichick has overhauled the North Carolina roster, bringing in more than 50 new players via the transfer portal, including South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez and eight new offensive linemen. Dykes and his staff are analyzing film of these new players to identify strengths and weaknesses.
“We’re in the process of trying to look at all those players, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and figure out how to attack the schemes and go play a big game,” Dykes said. “You can project the two-deep and say, ‘These guys are going to be the starters.’ You can find the tape of where they were last year and get a rapid view of what they’re like. We’ve already begun doing that.”
Unlike North Carolina, TCU didn’t heavily rely on the transfer portal. Quarterback Josh Hoover,who set a TCU season passing record in 2024 with 3,949 yards,returns. Hoover is the only returning quarterback in the country to average at least 300 passing yards per game (303.8) with a passer rating of at least 150. Dykes noted that having a veteran group “typically is a good thing for us.”
The TCU vs. North Carolina game will be the lone primetime game on Labor Day night, putting the national spotlight on both programs.”It’s a big game for our program. It’s a big day for the Big 12, and we certainly need to get off to a good start,” Dykes said.
What’s next
TCU faces a notable challenge in its season opener against a revamped North Carolina team led by coaching legend Bill Belichick. The Horned Frogs hope their experience and readiness will lead to a better outcome than their previous high-profile coaching debut matchup.