Why did Michael Lombardi resign so suddenly today? It came just minutes before a @wral.bsky.social investigation was set to publish. Here it is: www.wral.com/sports/north...

Lombardi out as UNC investigators probe allegations of drug use, sex among players, staff

Michael Lombardi, a longtime confidant of North Carolina football head coach Bill Belichick, was placed on paid administrative leave in late July. He is no longer with the football program.

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North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick confirmed that QB Billy Edwards Jr., a transfer from Wisconsin, will be the starter for the season opener vs. TCU. Belichick said Edwards, the most experienced option, was the most consistent.

NC State athletics director Boo Corrigan opened his Friday press conference with some comments about the life and legacy of his mom, Lena Corrigan, who passed away last month at 96.

Former UNC guard Seth Trimble, who cemented his place in Tar Heel lore with his buzzer-beating 3 to beat Duke in February, committed to Louisville. He was granted fifth year of eligibility by recent federal court ruling. NCAA is appealing. www.wral.com/sports/north...

UNC’s Trimble commits to Louisville after court ruling grants additional year of eligibility

Seth Trimble played four seasons with the Tar Heels, improving his scoring production each season. But the Tar Heels overhauled their roster in the offseason without Trimble, who was only recently gra...

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Federal judge orders that NC State defensive lineman KaTron Evans is immediately eligible for the next two weeks as his eligibility lawsuit. Eligible through Aug. 24. NC State plays Aug. 29 at Virginia. www.wral.com/sports/ncsta...

Federal judge orders NC State's Evans eligible for next two weeks as eligibility lawsuit procedes

NC State defensive lineman KaTron Evans filed a lawsuit last week seeking an additional year of eligibility.

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Potential future College Football Playoff bracket:

Trying to be better at posting here. No promises. Joining a wave of college athletics departments that have spun off all or part of their department into an outside entity, UNC is planning the same. AD Steve Newmark to discuss it tomorrow at trustees committee meeting. www.wral.com/sports/north...

UNC athletics plans new entity to run revenue-generating parts of department

Several university athletics departments across the nation have moved parts of their departments to newly created affiliated entities.

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NC budget: - UNC, NC State to receive up to $5.8M annually from sports betting taxes; same as App, ECU, Charlotte - bettors can deduct losses from winnings on state tax - new tax on prediction market operators - sports betting operators tax rate to 23% (current 18%) www.wral.com/news/nccapit...

UNC, NC State to get millions from sports betting; gambling deductions allowed in budget proposal

Not only would the tax on sports betting operators rise to 23%, but North Carolina would levy taxes on prediction market operators as well under proposals expected to be included in the state budget.

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Steve Newmark, North Carolina's next athletics director, says he's optimistic about the state of UNC football. "We feel like we’re on the right trajectory," he said at ACC Spring Meetings in Amelia Island, Florida. Much more from Newmark on UNC football: www.wral.com/sports/unc-s...

UNC’s Newmark on Tar Heels' football program: ‘We’re on the right trajectory’

North Carolina's Steve Newmark, who takes over as athletics director on July 1, said he's optimistic about the way football coach Bill Belichick, an NFL coaching legend, is building the Tar Heels' pro...

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Thought we @wral.bsky.social did some cool interviews with key Triangle sports figures at the ACC Spring Meetings in Florida this week. Have a few more to add, but you can find many of them here on You Tube (and hit subscribe if you don't mind): studio.youtube.com/channel/UCOP...

How did NC State find transfer RJ Keene? Credit to @PatrickJStacy. Cool story from Justin Gainey starts at 28:28 here: wral.com/22358158/ Says Keene told him: "I'll do whatever you want me to do. I'll run through a wall. I'll get every loose ball. I just want to win."

Justin Gainey: 'I want to build a program'

NC State coach Justin Gainey talks about building a roster for his first season as head coach of the Wolfpack.

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North Carolina lawmakers says they've reached a budget deal at least on spending priorities. Now they've got to pay for it. Why sports betting taxes are getting a closer look: www.wral.com/news/nccapit...

More taxes on sports betting? NC lawmakers discuss the possibility as industry pushes back

Lawmakers have weighed increasing tax rates on sports betting operators and an additional tax on lottery sales and individual sports bets, sources tell WRAL. No decisions have been made. And the propo...

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If you didn't get a Carolina Hurricanes beer skate Saturday, well, I have bad news for you. On the only thing hotter than the Hurricanes in the NHL playoffs: the beer skate, which sold out before the third period, and why there won't be more this postseason. www.wral.com/sports/carol...

Only thing hotter than Hurricanes in the playoffs? Carolina’s beer skate mug

The Carolina Hurricanes sold out of the beer skate during Saturday’s Game 1 of their second-round series against Philadelphia.

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Think I've written this story each of the last three years. Yes, sports betting is legal in North Carolina. No, you can't bet on Saturday's Kentucky Derby. (CC: @lukedecock.bsky.social) www.wral.com/sports/sport...

You can’t bet on Kentucky Derby, even though sports betting is legal in North Carolina

The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby is Saturday in Louisville. The race will air on WRAL.

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UNC officials had mapped out a proposed launch plan for its new basketball arena at Carolina North. A video. Watch parties. Pop-up exhibits. "A bold, legacy-defining choice." "A once-in-a-generation opportunity." Now everything's on hold (once again). www.wral.com/sports/north...

‘From Dean to Dream’: Inside UNC’s now-delayed push for new basketball arena at Carolina North

University of North Carolina officials worked on options for a new basketball arena. For months, they were prepared to announce a new build at Carolina North. Now the project is paused.

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The Carolina Hurricanes say that the redevelopment around Lenovo Center won't impact parking for NC State's 2026 football season. Development was supposed to begin shortly after the 2025 season ended. Details: www.wral.com/news/local/n...

Lenovo Center development won’t impact NC State football parking in 2026

Work on the potential $1B development around the home of the NC State men’s basketball program and Carolina Hurricanes hockey team was expected to start this month.

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Trying to keep up with college football's transfer portal. We have a list of who is going (one of the biggest recruits for UNC before the 2025 season) and who is staying (Duke QB Darian Mensah): www.wral.com/sports/north...

College football transfer portal tracker: QB prospect from Belichick's first class leaving UNC

The transfer portal opens Jan. 2 and closes Jan. 16 for college football players at North Carolina, NC State and Duke. But some aren’t waiting to make the decision to leave.

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If the House settlement and its new rules were supposed to bring financial certainty for schools, well, it hasn't happened at all ... and even the president is weighing in. www.wral.com/news/local/c...

‘Loopholes have won the day’: Cap? What cap? Spending on players growing even after NCAA settlement

Schools are promising coaches millions to build their rosters, far above the revenue-sharing limits put into place this year. Can anything stop the rising salaries?

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Will Wade promised a "reckoning" and an NCAA berth in his first season at NC State. But his team is 0-4 against teams from power conferences after an OT loss to Kansas. I don’t think every game is a referendum, but we certainly got to start winning some of these." www.wral.com/sports/ncsta...

Still seeking first signature win under Wade, NC State comes up just short vs. No. 19 Kansas

No. 19 Kansas beat NC State 77-76 on Saturday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

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Bill Belichick's first season at UNC ended at 4-8. No bowl game. No wins vs Wake Forest, Duke or NC State. No victories against an FBS team with more than 5 wins. Offense was bad. Defense was OK at times. Penalties became a huge problem late. UNC has a lot of work to do. www.wral.com/sports/north...

‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’: UNC’s Belichick says after disappointing season

North Carolina went 4-8 in the first season for head coach Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowl titles as an NFL head coach and was expected to elevate the status of the Tar Heels’ program.

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Is there anything Dave Doeren likes more than beating UNC? How about beating the Tar Heels with Bill Belichick on the other sideline? On NC State's fifth straight win in this rivalry: www.wralsportsfan.com/north-caroli...

Bill Belichick, UNC visit NC State in regular-season finale: live updates, scores :: WRALSportsFan.com

NC State never trailed in a 42-19 victory Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium.

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After the Giants fired their coach, Bill Belichick's name appeared on almost all the lists of potential candidates. Asked him about it today. www.wral.com/sports/north...

UNC's Belichick dismisses NFL coaching talk after Giants fire head coach

North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick won two Super Bowls as the New York Giants defensive coordinator.

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Bill Belichick and UNC unveiled a new military wall at the football center today on Veterans Day. “When people come back here, I want them to feel that we appreciate their contributions and recognize them.” www.wral.com/sports/north...

Belichick, UNC honor military veterans with ties to football program with memorial wall

The wall has 61 names currently, but will add more in the future, including Steve Belichick, Bill’s father, a Navy veteran who coached with the Tar Heels in the mid-1950s.

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UNC's Seth Trimble was injured in a weight room mishap. Sounds scary. More details: www.wral.com/sports/north...

UNC's Trimble broke arm in weight room mishap, could return next month

Seth Trimble is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery Monday.

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Thought Bill Belichick was particularly insightful last night on some of his team-building philosophies and reasons for why the Tar Heels struggled early and have gotten better. www.wral.com/sports/north...

Analysis: At insightful best, Belichick goes deep on Tar Heels' improvement, team-building methods

North Carolina won its second consecutive ACC game Saturday against Stanford, and head coach Bill Belichick detailed some of the reasons for UNC's improved play.

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Here at NC State for the beginning of the Will Wade era. "The reckoning" as NC State calls it. Short thread on some of @wral.bsky.social content since Wade's hiring. #redreckoning

NC State's Dave Doeren dismissed retirement talk yesterday, reminding everyone that he has four years left on his contract. Could lead to a sticky situation if Wolfpack leadership thinks it's time for a change. Doeren would be owed $12.5M buyout after this season. www.wral.com/sports/nc-st...

Doeren on retirement talk: 'I'm gonna keep coaching. I got four years left on my contract'

NC State football coach Dave Doeren is in his 13th season in Raleigh. Doeren is the program's leader in all-time victories, but has faced questions about his future during the Wolfpack's 4-4 season.

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Bill Belichick and his North Carolina team are still searching for their first ACC win (and first win over a P4 team). Syracuse's defense may be just the boost the struggling UNC offense has been looking for. www.wralsportsfan.com/belichick-ta...

Belichick, Tar Heels visit Syracuse seeking first ACC win and fewer offensive miscues :: WRALSportsFan.com

Turnovers, particularly near the end zone, have hampered North Carolina this season. The Tar Heels have lost four straight entering Friday's game at Syracuse.

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Pat Welter and I broke down the Virginia-UNC game, where the Tar Heels are making progress and where they go from here. YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9XX... Apple podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...

Rapid reaction to UNC's 17-16 OT loss to Virginia

YouTube video by WRAL

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Really good breakdown from former UNC QB Bryn Renner on UNC's failed 2-point play at the end of game vs. Virginia, including why Renner thinks UNC should have called timeout. YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNGn... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Breaking down UNC's unsuccessful two-point play vs. Virginia with former QB Bryn Renner

YouTube video by WRAL

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