The North Carolina Tar Heels (2-3) hit the road Friday night, heading out west for an ACC showdown with the California Golden Bears (4-2).
It's been a rocky stretch for the Tar Heels, who limp into this matchup on a two-game skid and winless in conference play. Their latest setback was a 38-10 drubbing at the hands of Clemson, a loss that exposed just how far this young squad has to go. The Golden Bears, meanwhile, are licking their own wounds after being thumped 45-21 by Duke back on October 4.
Adding to the drama, head coach Bill Belichick spent part of the week shutting down whispers about his future in Chapel Hill. The veteran coach called the rumors of his departure "nonsense," insisting he's committed to building something long-term at UNC. Still, his debut season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan — the Tar Heels have struggled to find their footing on both sides of the ball, and Belichick is still searching for the right mix of players who can spark life into this underperforming team.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the California vs North Carolina NCAAF game, plus plenty more.
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California vs North Carolina: Date and kick-off time
The Golden Bears will take on the Tar Heels in a highly anticipated NCAAF game on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 10:30 pm ET or 7:30 pm PT at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.
| Date | Friday, October 17, 2025 |
| Kick-off Time | 10:30 pm ET or 7:30 pm PT |
| Venue | California Memorial Stadium |
| Location | Berkeley, California |
How to watch California vs North Carolina on TV & stream live online
- TV channel: ESPN
- Streaming service: Fubo
Streaming the game with a VPN
Unable to watch this game due to broadcast restrictions? A VPN could be the answer to your problems.
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California vs North Carolina news & key players
California Golden Bears team news
The California Golden Bears have been their own worst enemy offensively, and their inconsistency might be the opening UNC desperately needs to flip the script.
Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has shown flashes of composure for a freshman, but his turnovers have been costly, and the Bears' ground game hasn't done him any favors. Averaging a meager 98 rushing yards per game, good for 126th in the nation, Cal's rushing attack has been stuck in first gear. When your quarterback's struggling and your run game can’t move the chains on early downs, that's a recipe for disaster against a defense looking for redemption. Expect North Carolina to get plenty of chances to pin their ears back on third and long and make life miserable for Sagapolutele.
The Golden Bears, meanwhile, have cooled off considerably after a hot start. After reeling off three straight wins to open the season, they've now dropped two of their last three, including a humbling 45-21 loss to Duke last week and a 34-0 shutout at San Diego State. Even so, they remain 1-1 in ACC play, thanks to a gritty four-point win over Boston College — the same weekend UNC was thumped by Clemson.
Against Duke, Sagapolutele put up 245 passing yards on 20-of-31 throws (64.5%) with one touchdown and three interceptions, the kind of stat line that tells the story of both promise and inexperience. Running back Kendrick Raphael managed 67 yards and two scores on 18 carries, while also contributing three catches for 25 yards. Trond Grizzell led the receiving corps with 56 yards on four grabs, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep the Bears in striking distance.
North Carolina Tar Heels team news
The North Carolina Tar Heels just can't seem to stay on the field long enough to find any rhythm, and that's been their Achilles' heel through the first five games. They're averaging just 26:39 in time of possession, meaning their defense has been left gasping for air far too often. But this week's matchup could finally give them a break.
If UNC quarterback Max Johnson can continue to settle in, make smart decisions, and avoid the back-breaking mistakes that have plagued their recent losses, the Tar Heels could hang around long enough to make things interesting in Berkeley.
Benjamin Hall made the most of his limited touches, rushing five times for 24 yards, averaging a solid 4.8 yards per carry, and punching in a touchdown to cap his effort. He also chipped in through the air with a lone reception that went for 14 yards. Meanwhile, Jordan Shipp proved to be a steady option in the passing game, hauling in five catches for 41 yards, working at an efficient 8.2 yards per grab.