The Tar Heels Began Belichick's First Year in Disastrous Form.

College football produced a chaotic week one marked by Bill Belichick's disastrous debut as UNC head coach and early struggles from Arch Manning. The Micah Parsons trade presented baffling strategic and roster implications for teams involved. An examination considers whether video gaming and virtual modes are driving increased interest and investment in women's sports, with the historic WNBA MyTEAM mode in NBA 2K26 as an example. An Afterball segment addresses unwritten rules in tennis and their effects at the U.S. Open. A bonus subscriber episode presents NFL 'roses, buds, and thorns' picks ahead of week one.

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Ben Lindbergh, and Lindsay Gibbs discuss college football's wild week one, including Bill Belichick's disastrous debut with the Tar Heels and Arch Manning's early struggles. They dissect the baffling Micah Parsons trade, and later welcome Syracuse sports management professor Lindsey Darvin to explore whether the world of video gaming is boosting women's sports. Finally, Ben has an Afterball on, "unwritten rules" in tennis, and their effect on the U.S. Open.

On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the hosts pick their NFL 'roses, buds, and thorns ' ahead of week one. Read more about Belichick and UNC's record of falling short. Read Bill Barnwell's piece about the implications of the Micah Parsons trade. Read Lindsey Darvin's Forbes piece about the historic WNBA MyTEAM mode in NBA 2K26. Read Alex's recent piece for the Ringer on 'Steelers Exceptionalism.'

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