Inside Carolina: A UNC athletics podcast

North Carolina opened 2026 with a win in Ireland. It was not pretty or flashy, but Bill Belichick's team grinded out a victory over a TCU that embarrassed the Tar Heels in front of the football world last season.

Inside Carolina senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley to discuss exactly what the 15-10 win means, not only for the football program, but the fanbase, the national narratives and more. Is Carolina poised to make a bowl run? Can Carolina make noise in the ACC? Or, was it a win over a bad team in bad weather and not all that significant in the grand season scheme? Barnes and Ashley share their takes on those questions and more.

Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.”

**Call to Action:**
**Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
**Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!
**Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

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School is back in, and Michael Malone's roster for his inaugural season is finally set. An infinite number of questions surround the program as the players begin conditioning, bonding, and practicing. In that vein, Sherrell McMillan and Sean Moran join Joey Powell to consider some major hypotheses going into the final part of the summer.

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Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.”

**Call to Action:**
**Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
**Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!
**Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SEASON KICKOFF SALE: Get 75% off an Inside Carolina subscription for the first year! Join today - http://www.InsideCarolina.com - New Subscribers Only

Inside Carolina's Buck Sanders and Jason Staples join Tommy Ashley to break down North Carolina's 15-10 win over TCU to open the 2026 season. The trio runs throw the highs and lows for the Tar Heels across the field - offensive standouts, defensive playmakers and a key special teams play that changed the trajectory of the game.

Staples discusses the importance of Billy Edwards and decision making against the TCU defensive front on the offensive side of the ball as well as Jelani Thurman's breakout performance. They also highlight the defensive adjustments Belichick and staff made after the Horned Frogs had success early on outside runs.

Finall, Sanders takes his mulligan on the season predictions after Carolina's win in Ireland to wrap the show.

Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.”

**Call to Action:**
**Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
**Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!
**Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SEASON KICKOFF SALE: Get 75% off an Inside Carolina subscription for the first year! Join today - http://www.InsideCarolina.com - New Subscribers Only

Inside Carolina senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley to discuss the reasons North Carolina can beat TCU and have a successful football season in 2026. On Thursday's Game Plan show, Barnes picked the Heels to win a close one over the Horned Frogs and he details the reasons for that prediction as well as signs that point to Carolina Football being better than many expect.

Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community: http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.”

**Call to Action:**
**Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
**Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!
**Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside Carolina senior reporter Greg Barnes and IC football analyst Jason Staples join Tommy Ashley to preview and predict North Carolina's season opener against TCU on Saturday. The IC trio breaks down the importance of the season opener for not only this team, but Bill Belichick and the entire Carolina program, especially given the way last season played out.

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Barnes and Staples highlight the matchups and areas of concern on both sides of the ball for the Heels and how important UNC's trenches - especially Christo Kelly and the offensive line in front of quarterback Billy Edwards, Jr. Carolina's secondary and linebacker play is highlighted as well as special teams under new coordinator Billy Miller. Finally, the prediction portion of the show as Barnes, Staples and Ashley take turns previewing and predicting how they believe the Tar Heels and Horned Frogs will play out in Ireland on Saturday.

Visit the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community - SEASON KICKOFF SALE: Get 75% off an Inside Carolina subscription for the first year! Join today - http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Founded in 1994, Inside Carolina is universally viewed as the authority on Tar Heel sports and recruiting. With relentless, unparalleled year-round coverage, and the largest online community of always-engaged UNC fans, the slogan is true: “There is no offseason at Inside Carolina.”

**Call to Action:**
**Subscribe:** Follow 'Inside Carolina' wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode!
**Review:** Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us reach more Tar Heel fans!
**Visit:** Explore http://www.InsideCarolina.com for breaking news, recruiting updates, and expert commentary on all things UNC sports.

This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.