Belichick Faces Backlash, Legal Scrutiny After Rout

Bill Belichick's tenure at North Carolina has come under mounting scrutiny after a 38-10 home loss to Clemson dropped the Tar Heels to 2-3 and continued lopsided defeats against Power Four opponents. Clemson opened with a 75-yard touchdown and UNC allowed 399 passing yards and five TDs, falling into a 28-3 first-quarter hole that prompted a visible fan exodus and a viral on-air mocking of the season. Critics have grown louder — including CBS analyst Aaron Taylor urging UNC to move on — and social media seized on the poor play and in-game coaching. Off the field, UNC faces a lawsuit alleging its hiring was handled illegally, and reporting shows Belichick's five-year, $50 million UNC contract includes guaranteed money plus performance and academic bonuses. Belichick has urged patience, saying UNC must "do them better," and will prepare for its next game at Cal as pressure mounts for rapid improvement.