While there are plenty of storylines at ACC Kickoff, including taking shots at the SEC, Bill Belichick and North Carolina is a popular topic.

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi offered an animated response to a question about the former New England Patriots coach.

“I expect him to be in the championship game against Pitt this year,” Narduzzi said Wednesday. “You got Bill Belichick, you better be, right?

Of course, Narduzzi said it with a bit of sarcasm and a smile on his face.

For full context, he talked about how it takes so many different pieces to put together a successful puzzle.

“I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t have success,” Narduzzi said. “I don’t have a crystal ball. I’m no genius over here, but he’s a heck of a football coach. But it takes players and it takes coaches, OK? It takes a program together. It takes everybody moving in the same direction. I’m sure with the president there at North Carolina, the new AD now coming in and Belichick and his entire staff, they’ll do a helluva job.”

It wasn’t the only time he was asked about the Super Bowl-winning coach.

He was also asked about what it meant for the league to have Belichick in the league.

“Is this a Pitt question, or is this a North Carolina question?” he replied. “Bill Belichick, one of the greatest coaches to ever coach the game. Won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. I’ve enjoyed conversations with him, whether it be at Amelia Island or in Zoom calls with ACC coaches. He’s a tremendous football coach, really smart.

“Again, he adds a lot of flavor and excitement to the ACC. When you look at Bill Belichick coming to the Atlantic Coast Conference, it just tells you how attractive our conference is.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.