Why Bill Belichick, UNC Can Still Reach Bowl Game Despite 7th Loss of 2025 CFB Season

UNC fell to 4-7 in head coach Bill Belichick's first season at the helm after falling to arch-rival Duke 32-25 on Saturday afternoon.

The Tar Heels only have one more regular season game left at North Carolina State on Saturday, Nov. 29, so they are guaranteed to finish with a losing record.

For a team to be eligible for a bowl game, it must have as many wins as losses at minimum. So, for a typical 12-game college football schedule, a team must be 6-6 or better.

However, it's possible that UNC can still sneak into the field. If the bowl games can't fill their slots with teams that won six or more games, they can then invite 5-7 squads.

Scott Dochterman of The Athletic explained the situation:

"...But if not enough teams get to six wins, then the bowl system dips into the next two auxiliary pools: programs transitioning from the Football Championship Subdivision and the 5-7 squads with the highest academic progress rate (APR). That's where North Carolina comes in.

"Only two Football Bowl Subdivision teams have a better APR than the Tar Heels, and both (Ohio State and Alabama) already have qualified for the postseason. So, should North Carolina finish 5-7 and a spot opens beyond the transitional teams, Belichick will coach in a bowl game..."

UNC, of course, would need to beat NC State next Saturday to get that potential invite. That's easier said than done, as the 6-5 Wolfpack should be a clear favorite over the Tar Heels at home. UNC does have some bowl game life, though, with just one week remaining.