New North Carolina coach Bill Belichick got a good look at what he's set to inherit in Chapel Hill on Saturday. UNC entered its Fenway Bowl matchup against UConn as a 2.5-point favorite under interim head coach Freddie Kitchens but fell into a 20-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and suffered its fifth straight bowl loss with a 27-14 defeat in Boston.

North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell (12) looks to pass as Wake Forest defensive lineman BJ Williams (18) applies pressure during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) AP

The UConn football program reached the nine-win mark for just the third time in its FBS history with a 27-14 victory over North Carolina in the Fenway Bowl.