Bill Belichick steps into college football, taking over North Carolina in a move that instantly reshapes expectations for the Tar Heels. After Drake Maye guided a 17-10 run over two seasons, UNC suffered a 6-7 mark with three different quarterbacks, culminating in Mack Brown’s exit. Belichick arrives with legendary NFL resume and a youth-influx in the transfer portal—13 projected starters, including Gio Lopez at quarterback—adding a layer of strategic, game-plan precision UNC hadn’t seen before.

The Tar Heels boast solid linebackers and an experienced offensive line, but the real edge is Belichick’s on-the-clipboard acumen. The biggest hurdle is skill-position depth, with Omarion Hampton and top targets departing. The balancing act will be translating an NFL mindset to the college game while integrating in-house replacements and a new QB. The 60th-ranked schedule, 6.6 projected wins, and FanDuel’s 7.5 enable a nuanced fantasy view: upside if Belichick’s system unlocks the UNC roster; risk if gaps at receiver and skill spots overwhelm early rhythm.

New NCAA disclosures reveal Connor Stalions sought sideline access for Central Michigan during the 2023 season opener with Michigan State, wearing CMU gear and carrying a recording device. The investigation traces back to photos from that game and centers on alleged sign collection on the CMU sideline, with CMU staffers reportedly coordinating the arrangement.

The NCAA’s ensuing notice details broader Michigan sign-stealing fallout, including Jim Harbaugh’s show-cause penalties and Michigan’s multi-million-dollar fine, probation, and recruiting-restrictions. Jim McElwain’s resignation at Central Michigan is connected to the episode, though he says he knew nothing of the man’s identity. The case underscores the ongoing debate around permissible scouting, sideline access, and the consequences for programs that cross lines in pursuit of competitive advantage.

For fantasy and betting audiences, the piece highlights the fragility of program integrity and the potential longer-term reverberations on talent acquisition, development cycles, and recruiting calendars across college football landscapes.

Michigan State confronts a pivotal special teams season with a new kicker slate and a revolving door at long snapping. After Jonathan Kim’s departure, the Spartans lean on redshirt freshman Martin Connington and Tarik Ahmetbasic, both nursing injuries, while walk-on Blake Sislo has stepped in to handle field goals and kickoffs. The staff emphasizes dependability and availability as the deciding traits for who finally handles kicking duties, with the opener against Western Michigan looming. At long snapper, Kaden Schickel’s season-ending knee injury last year created instability, prompting a fresh look that includes true freshman Jack Wills and veteran options like Sam Edwards and Brennan Parachek. MSU expects Schickel to be ready, but the path to steady snaps remains a key storyline heading into the season.

The coaching staff rebuilt the operation around blocking and coverage drills, aiming to prevent hiccups in the unit. Schickel’s ACL recovery is a focal point, with optimism that he’ll be back in time for kickoff. The Spartans also shuffled long snapping duties after Schickel’s injury, a move that could influence field position and special-teams timing all season. The combination of a possibly split kicking workload and a stabilized long-snapping corps will shape MSU’s ability to maximize scoring opportunities and minimize risky returns in 2024.