North Carolina stuns No. 25 Pittsburgh
Bill Belichick secured a major milestone in his second season at North Carolina when the Tar Heels defeated No. 25 Pittsburgh 21–17 on October 10, 2026. The victory marked his first win against a ranked opponent as a college head coach and ended North Carolina’s wait for a ranked road win since 2020.
Billy Edwards Jr. connected with Shamar Easter for a decisive 75-yard touchdown as the Tar Heels improved to 3–2.
Belichick records a milestone victory
The win marked Belichick’s first victory over a ranked opponent as a college head coach. North Carolina also secured its first win against a ranked team since defeating No. 25 Miami in 2023.
The Tar Heels had not won a road game against a ranked opponent since beating No. 9 Miami in 2020. Their victory in Pittsburgh ended that stretch and added an important result to Belichick’s second season in Chapel Hill.
Shamar Easter delivers the decisive touchdown
North Carolina trailed Pittsburgh 17–14 in the fourth quarter after La’Vell Wright scored on a 1-yard rushing play. The Tar Heels responded immediately with a 75-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. to tight end Shamar Easter.
The touchdown put North Carolina ahead 21–17, and kicker Rece Verhoff added the extra point. The Tar Heels held that four-point lead for the remainder of the game to secure the victory over No. 25 Pittsburgh.
Billy Edwards Jr. leads the passing attack
Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. completed 18 of 26 passes for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns against Pittsburgh. He connected with tight end Jelani Thurman for a touchdown before finding Shamar Easter for the decisive 75-yard score.
Edwards also threw 2 interceptions during the game. Despite those turnovers, he helped North Carolina record 249 passing yards, compared with Pittsburgh’s 219. His passing touchdowns and Easter’s fourth-quarter reception helped the Tar Heels secure a 21–17 victory.
North Carolina responds after halftime
Pittsburgh led 10–7 at halftime after scoring a first-quarter touchdown and a second-quarter field goal. North Carolina scored the third quarter’s only touchdown when running back Demon June crossed the goal line on a 1-yard run. Rece Verhoff’s extra point gave the Tar Heels a 14–10 lead.
Pittsburgh regained the advantage on La’Vell Wright’s second rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter. North Carolina answered with Shamar Easter’s 75-yard touchdown reception and another successful extra point to take a 21–17 lead.
The Tar Heels defense closes out the game
North Carolina’s defense played a central role in protecting the late lead against Pittsburgh. The Tar Heels stopped Pittsburgh’s final 3 drives with turnovers on downs, preventing the Panthers from scoring again after taking a 17–14 lead.
Pittsburgh finished with 369 total yards, including 150 rushing yards and 219 passing yards. The Panthers failed to convert any of their 4 fourth-down attempts, helping North Carolina preserve its 21–17 victory.
Jordan Shipp contributes in the passing game
Wide receiver Jordan Shipp was an important contributor for North Carolina against Pittsburgh. He caught 6 passes for 93 yards, recording the highest receiving total among Tar Heel players in the game.
Tight end Shamar Easter finished with 1 reception for 75 yards and a touchdown, while tight end Jelani Thurman caught 6 passes for 29 yards and a score. North Carolina’s passing attack produced 249 yards and 2 touchdown passes in the 21–17 victory.
Interesting fact: Belichick played both football and lacrosse at Wesleyan University.
Pittsburgh struggles without its starting quarterback
Pittsburgh played without starting quarterback Mason Heintschel, who was sidelined for the remainder of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the previous week’s victory over Virginia Tech. Holden Geriner made his first collegiate start for the Panthers.
Geriner completed 27 of 44 passes for 219 yards and threw 2 interceptions. Pittsburgh scored 2 rushing touchdowns through La’Vell Wright but failed to score again after taking a 17–14 lead in the fourth quarter, falling to North Carolina 21–17.
Interesting fact: Belichick was named NFL Coach of the Year three times.
North Carolina improves its 2026 record
North Carolina entered the Pittsburgh matchup with a 2–2 record after opening the 2026 season with wins over TCU and East Tennessee State. The Tar Heels then lost consecutive games against Clemson and No. 3 Notre Dame before traveling to Pittsburgh.
The 21–17 victory improved North Carolina to 3–2 overall and 1–1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The win gave Belichick’s team a winning record after 5 games in his second season as head coach.
Belichick is building on his first season
Belichick became North Carolina’s head football coach in December 2024, taking his first college head coaching position after decades in professional football. His first season with the Tar Heels ended with a 4–8 overall record and a 2–6 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
North Carolina entered the 2026 season looking to improve on that record in Belichick’s second year as head coach. The victory over No. 25 Pittsburgh improved the Tar Heels to 3–2 overall and 1–1 in ACC play.
Belichick brings a decorated NFL career
Before joining North Carolina, Belichick spent 24 seasons as head coach of the New England Patriots from 2000 through 2023. He led the franchise to six Super Bowl championships, nine conference titles and 17 division crowns during that period.
Belichick also won two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants before becoming a head coach. His NFL experience includes leading the Cleveland Browns and serving on coaching staffs with several other professional teams before his tenure in New England.
The Tar Heels prepare for Duke
North Carolina’s next scheduled game after the Pittsburgh victory is an away matchup against Duke on October 17, 2026. The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.
The matchup gives the Tar Heels another opportunity to build on their latest result as conference play continues. Duke is a longstanding in-state rival, and the teams meet as part of North Carolina’s 2026 regular-season schedule.
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The Pittsburgh win marks a turning point in 2026
North Carolina’s victory over Pittsburgh delivered its first win against a ranked opponent in three seasons and its first road victory over a ranked team since 2020. The result also marked Belichick’s first college coaching victory against a ranked opponent.
The Tar Heels improved to 3–2 after finishing 4–8 in Belichick’s first season. Their next test against Duke will provide another opportunity to assess the team’s progress, although one victory alone does not determine how the remainder of the season will unfold.
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What do you think this win means for North Carolina’s season? Like this post and share your thoughts in the comments.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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