NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

The Tar Heels went 6-7 in 2024 under Mack Brown's final season, then hired Bill Belichick, whose first season in 2025 produced a 4-8 record (2-6 ACC). Quarterback Drake Maye was selected third overall by New England in the 2024 NFL Draft, followed by running back Omarion Hampton going 22nd overall to the Chargers in 2025. Hampton posted back-to-back 1,500-yard rushing seasons in 2023 and 2024, leading the ACC both years, making his cards a focal point for collectors tracking the elite running back class. The consecutive first-round picks drove collector interest in Tar Heel rookies, though the team's on-field decline under the Belichick rebuild dampened broader market enthusiasm.

Where they stand: The 2026 season marks Bill Belichick's second year as head coach, with Bobby Petrino joining as offensive coordinator. North Carolina opens August 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, as the program sits in preseason camp. Belichick signed the nation's 12th-ranked recruiting class with 39 players in December 2025, ranking 17th by 247Sports, and added over 20 transfers including quarterback Gio Lopez and receivers from Louisville and Miami to rebuild a roster that missed bowl eligibility in 2025.