Bill Belichick‘s UNC Tar Heels beat the Stanford Cardinal in a close game on November 8th with a final score of 20–15. It was a solid win for UNC, giving them their second victory in a row after a rough start to the season. The former Patriots head coach couldn’t contain his excitement and plans to hunt his next Tom in the scout ranking.

The game was a defensive battle early on, tied 3–3 at halftime. In the second half, the Tar Heels’ offense found its footing, managing to build a 20–3 lead before Stanford made a late push. You need to give Belichick’s defense for saving them time and time again. Steve Belichick’s was relentlessly pressuring the Stanford QB and also recording an impressive nine sacks. They also forced two turnovers. Bill Belichick was smiling a bit more than usual and spilled the tea.

On November 8, right after the game, the UNC Tar Heels insider page hopped onto X and revealed: “Belichick now talking about Tom Brady in his postgame presser. Says his greatest players started on scout team, played against top units.” In simple language; Belichick said he wants to find the next “Tom Brady” in college players, says that everyone starts somewhere and hard work can lead to greatness.

Belichick’s comments connect directly to one of the most well-known stories in football history. Tom Brady’s unlikely rise from an overlooked draft pick to an NFL legend. Selected 199th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady began his rookie season as the New England Patriots’ fourth-string quarterback. At a time when most NFL teams carried only three quarterbacks, his path to the field seemed uncertain. But Brady worked hard on the scout team, practicing against the first-team defense, learning and improving every day. Essentially moved upto QB2.

In 2001, Brady got his big shot when starter Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury. He became the team’s starter and went on to have an incredible career, winning three MVP awards and seven Super Bowls. Belichick’s point is clear: even the best players can be found on the scout team. That’s exactly what Bill Belichick plans to do.

UNC’s Bowl game chance?

The UNC Tar Heels have a record of 4–5 under head coach Bill Belichick and must win two of their final three games to become eligible for a postseason bowl game. After a difficult start to the season, the team has found its stride, stringing together two consecutive wins. The upcoming schedule is a tough one, featuring three in-state rivalry games that will determine their postseason fate.

The Tar Heels’ remaining games are against Wake Forest on November 15, Duke on November 22, and NC State on November 29. To reach the required six wins for bowl eligibility, the team needs to secure victories in at least two of these matchups. Shipp made it pretty clear that UNC isn’t getting caught up in bowl talk yet. They know the opportunity is there, but Wake Forest is the priority right now before anything else.

If UNC can secure those two crucial wins, they will extend their season beyond the final week of November with a bowl appearance. The path to a bowl game is clear, but winning these tough in-state rivalry games will be the ultimate test for Belichick’s squad.