North Carolina has already made one major change to its football program by hiring legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick.
Now, the Tar Heels could eventually find themselves making an even bigger move.
With conference realignment continuing to reshape college athletics, North Carolina has reportedly emerged as one of the Southeastern Conference's most attractive potential expansion targets.
According to On3's Brett McMurphy, the SEC currently has no immediate plans to add schools. However, if the conference decides to expand in the future, North Carolina and Virginia would be at the top of its wish list.
The report creates an intriguing possibility for the Tar Heels, who have spent decades competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. A move to the SEC would represent a significant change for North Carolina's athletic department, particularly its football program under Belichick.
The six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach arrived in Chapel Hill with the goal of transforming the Tar Heels into a more competitive national program. While his hiring generated significant attention across college football, a potential conference change could create an entirely different set of opportunities and challenges.
Joining the SEC would place North Carolina in one of the nation's most competitive football conferences, with annual matchups against programs such as Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas.
It would also give the Tar Heels access to a conference with considerable television revenue, recruiting exposure and national visibility.
However, the appeal of North Carolina extends beyond football.
The university has one of college basketball's most recognizable brands, a strong academic reputation and a location that could help the SEC expand its presence in a growing southeastern market.
Virginia offers similar advantages, making both schools attractive options should another round of conference realignment begin.
McMurphy also reported that the SEC currently has little interest in adding Clemson, Florida State or Miami, largely because the conference already has a presence in South Carolina and Florida.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten could consider several ACC programs, Notre Dame and potentially schools in other regions if it eventually revisits expansion.
For now, neither conference appears ready to make a move.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti recently dismissed speculation about immediate expansion, emphasizing the conference's commitment to its current 18 members.
The SEC has also repeatedly indicated that expansion is not an immediate priority.
Still, North Carolina's potential departure from the ACC has been discussed before.
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The Tar Heels were previously identified as an attractive target for both the SEC and Big Ten, particularly as schools across the country searched for greater financial opportunities. Those conversations have become more relevant following the ACC's legal disputes with Clemson and Florida State over the conference's media rights and exit restrictions.
The resulting settlement established a declining schedule of withdrawal fees, potentially making future departures more financially manageable for interested schools.
North Carolina has also recently raised concerns about proposed federal legislation that could restrict conference realignment.
The university publicly urged lawmakers to reconsider provisions of the Protect College Sports Act that could limit schools' ability to change conferences. Although that position does not confirm plans to leave the ACC, it demonstrates the importance North Carolina places on maintaining flexibility in an evolving college athletics landscape.
For Belichick, a potential move to the SEC would introduce another challenge as he continues building the Tar Heels' football program.
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Competing in the conference would mean facing some of the nation's strongest recruiting operations and most established football programs on a regular basis. At the same time, the increased exposure could help North Carolina attract talent and strengthen its national profile.
Any potential conference change would also have implications beyond football, affecting basketball, other varsity sports and longstanding ACC rivalries.
Nothing is imminent, and there has been no announcement that North Carolina is leaving its current conference. However, McMurphy's latest report suggests the Tar Heels could be among the first schools considered if the SEC decides to expand.
With Belichick already leading a new era of North Carolina football, another major change could eventually be on the horizon.