North Carolina fell 21–18 to California on Saturday, marking yet another setback for a program that hasn’t beaten a Power Four opponent since last November. Bill Belichick’s debut season is turning into a complete nightmare as Cal wins, leaving UNC winless in the ACC. But it looks like officials tried to push the Tar Heels’ fate.

Fans claim that officials took forever to give the reviews throughout the game. There were multiple stops with continuous replays on reviews or penalties, which were happening one after the other for about 10 straight plays. All of this delayed the game, and even when UNC tried to make a comeback, they couldn’t do much. That’s what forced fans to hit X to urge authorities to investigate the officials. “The ref in the UNC/Cal game is clearly trying to cover the spread for UNC. He should be investigated immediately.”

One of the key moments came in the fourth quarter when Gio Lopez was sacked by California’s LB Chris Victor, after which Victor was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, which even gave UNC a 15-yard first down. The delay sure frustrated fans, which again sparked outrage that officials were favoring them, but it couldn’t do much for UNC, as their rookie mistakes were way beyond saving. In the fourth quarter, WR Nathan Leacock fumbled the ball, which was supposed to be a possible TD, which ended the game for them.

And it wasn’t the only time. Initially, North Carolina’s offense fumbled the ball, which gave Cal’s QB Jaron-Keawa Sagapolutele a chance to turn it into a touchdown. Bill Belichick’s team did respond with a rushing TD by Ben Hall, but then Cal again took the lead with a seven-yard TD catch by Jacob De Jesus, giving Cal a 14-7 lead.

Despite getting tons of opportunities, North Carolina couldn’t cash in on them. During halftime, UNC was trailing with a 14-10 score, but their defense turned heads in the second quarter by stopping Cal from scoring, and even kicker Rece Verhoff made a field goal to push them further. But later in the second half, when UNC had two chances to stop them, they couldn’t do it. Result? Cal converted a fourth-and-1 with a big play, and their RB, Kendrick Raphael, scored, giving them a double-digit lead.

Bill Belichick’s team is facing fans wrath

Bill Belichick came to UNC with a lot of hype and 6 Super Bowl wins on his back. But things turned south soon. This fan’s frustration says it all: “This Cal-UNC game is unwatchable. Fire every official involved. EVERY SINGLE PLAY IS REVIEWED, and the penalties are ridiculous.” 

Then came in Cal’s LB Chris Vector’s penalty that made them more furious. As this fan voices dissatisfaction against it: “Football is turning into such a joke, like seriously having to review this in the UNC vs. CAL football game! I’m at my parents’ 🏠, who are both physicians and think this is ridiculous! It’s physics; the bigger man is gonna make contact with the player that is smaller than him in the head and neck area!” Another fan echoed the same sentiment. “3 straight plays, 3 reviews. Someone doesn’t want this UNC-Cal game to end.”

Every review took so much time that fans started getting irritated waiting for the final result. “At this f–king pace this match will be over by 5am. Wtf is this review shit?! #Cal #UNC” Then comes in straight sarcasm, with fans applauding Cal for winning the game against UNC and the official’s late call. “Cal is really gonna beat UNC and the officials. They should get 2 ACC wins for this one tbh.”Only time will tell whether this meltdown becomes a turning point for Belichick’s Tar Heels, or just another chapter in a season slipping out of control.