Overview

• University spokesperson Dean Stoyer confirmed Lombardi traveled to Saudi Arabia in August to explore potential investment interest from the Public Investment Fund.
• UNC says the Saudi hosts paid for the trip and no university or athletic department funds were used.
• Reporting from The Athletic indicates the outreach produced no investment agreement for Tar Heels football.
• The confirmation lands during a shaky start under Bill Belichick, with a 2-3 record, a suspended cornerbacks coach for alleged NCAA violations, and recent denials of buyout discussions paired with public support from AD Bubba Cunningham.
• Journalist Pablo Torre previewed a podcast episode detailing the trip, which helped trigger the latest round of scrutiny of the program.