The countdown of the top moments and storylines from North Carolina athletics during the 2025-26 academic year continues with entries No. 7 through No. 4. This portion of the list features individual brilliance, sustained excellence from championship-caliber programs, and one of the biggest disappointments in recent Tar Heel history.
Few freshmen in recent college basketball history generated the nightly excitement that Caleb Wilson did.
The dynamic forward was must-watch television every time he stepped on the floor, combining highlight-reel dunks, elite defense and infectious energy into one electrifying package. Unfortunately, injuries kept fans from seeing the full version of what could have been a legendary freshman campaign.
Wilson appeared in just 24 games after suffering a broken wrist midway through the season. As he worked toward returning for the regular-season finale at Duke, another cruel twist followed when he broke his shooting thumb during practice, ending his season before he could make it back.
Even with the shortened campaign, Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. He scored at least 20 points in 17 of his 24 contests and never scored fewer than 12 points all season.
His performances against Kansas and Duke showcased why he became one of the nation's most exciting players and left Tar Heel fans wondering just how far Carolina could have gone had he remained healthy.
North Carolina women's tennis added another historic achievement thanks to Reese Brantmeier.
The senior claimed the NCAA singles national championship after navigating a six-match tournament that featured four grueling three-set victories. She saved some of her best tennis for the biggest moments, winning the national championship match in straight sets.
Brantmeier also earned ACC Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season and finished the year ranked No. 2 nationally in singles and No. 4 in doubles. According to UNC, she also became the first player in program history to earn All-America honors every opportunity she has had during her collegiate career.
Her individual title highlighted another outstanding season for one of the nation's premier women's tennis programs.
Following an undefeated national championship season in 2025, North Carolina women's lacrosse nearly did it again.
The Tar Heels repeated as ACC regular-season and tournament champions before advancing back to the NCAA national championship game. Along the way, Carolina defeated Clemson, Stanford and Maryland before falling to Northwestern in the title game.
While the 14-11 loss ended the repeat bid, reaching consecutive national championship games remains an incredible accomplishment. The Tar Heels finished another dominant season with one of the nation's strongest résumés and continued to establish themselves as one of college lacrosse's premier programs.
Perhaps no storyline generated more national attention than Bill Belichick's first year as North Carolina's football coach.
The hiring of the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach instantly put UNC football in the national spotlight, making every game and every headline part of a much larger story.
Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, the on-field results didn't match the excitement.
Carolina finished just 4-8 overall and 2-6 in ACC play despite entering the season with a manageable schedule. Close losses to California and Virginia, combined with lopsided defeats against teams like TCU, Clemson and NC State, left plenty of questions about the direction of the program heading into Year 2.
Roster turnover, transfer portal timing and increased scrutiny surrounding the program all contributed to a challenging debut season for Belichick.
While expectations remain high moving forward, the disappointing first year becomes one of the defining storylines of the 2025-26 athletic calendar.
With four more moments now revealed, only the biggest three storylines remain. The final installment of the countdown will unveil the top moments from North Carolina athletics during the 2025-26 academic year.
For more on the countdown, check out the latest episode on the Locked On Tar Heels podcast:
