North Carolina secured a 21-17 upset victory over 25th-ranked Pittsburgh this Saturday (10) at Acrisure Stadium, delivering head coach Bill Belichick his first win against a ranked opponent in college football. The Tar Heels overcame a double-digit deficit and relied on a fourth-quarter defensive stand to hand the Panthers their first loss of the season.
The outcome halted two long droughts for North Carolina, which had not defeated a Top 25 opponent since beating Miami in 2023 and had not beaten a ranked team on the road since another victory against Miami in 2020. “Gutsy performance. Kept battling against a good football team. We just kept hanging in there. We made a couple big plays, and they made a couple too. They’re a good football team,” Belichick said after the game.
Billy Edwards Jr. sparks North Carolina comeback with 75-yard strike
Pittsburgh opened a 10-0 advantage in the first half following a touchdown run by running back La’Vell Wright and a 41-yard field goal from kicker Antonio Chadra. North Carolina responded in the second quarter when quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. connected with tight end Jelani Thurman on a 7-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to three points entering halftime.
The Tar Heels claimed their first lead late in the third quarter when running back Demon June scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 14-10. Pittsburgh answered immediately with a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by Wright’s second touchdown run from 1 yard out, putting the hosts ahead 17-14 early in the final quarter.
North Carolina reclaimed the advantage on the very next snap from scrimmage. Edwards launched a deep throw downfield to tight end Shamar Easter, who broke free for a 75-yard touchdown reception that established the decisive 21-17 margin. “Every play is designed to be an 80-yard touchdown. They obviously don’t all go that way, but it felt really nice to see Shamar catch and run with that,” Edwards said.
Pittsburgh attack stalled by North Carolina defense in the fourth quarter
Facing a four-point deficit, Pittsburgh turned to backup quarterback Holden Geriner, who made his first career start after starter Mason Heintschel suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament the previous week. Geriner completed 27 of 44 passes for 219 yards with two interceptions as the Panthers offense struggled to convert in critical situations.
The North Carolina defensive unit stopped three consecutive Pittsburgh fourth-down attempts in the fourth quarter, forcing three straight turnovers on downs to protect the lead. The Panthers finished the afternoon 0 for 4 on fourth-down conversion attempts, failing to score throughout the final ten minutes of regulation.
“Obviously, his first start … he will get better and better just from the experiences. Got a lot of faith and trust in him. I was happy with the way he played in his first start,” Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi said regarding Geriner’s performance under center.
Key statistics from the North Carolina victory at Acrisure Stadium
- Final score: North Carolina 21, No. 25 Pittsburgh 17
- Billy Edwards Jr. passing line: 18 completions on 26 attempts, 249 passing yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions
- Holden Geriner passing line: 27 completions on 44 attempts, 219 passing yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions
- Decisive play: 75-yard touchdown pass from Billy Edwards Jr. to Shamar Easter in the fourth quarter
- Fourth-down defense: Pittsburgh converted 0 of 4 attempts on fourth down
- Updated overall records: North Carolina moves to 3-2 (1-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play); Pittsburgh moves to 5-1 (2-1 in ACC play)
- Bill Belichick head coaching record at Acrisure Stadium: 9-3 overall (8-3 in the NFL and 1-0 in the NCAA)
Bill Belichick rebuilding trajectory at North Carolina
Belichick joined North Carolina in December 2024 to prepare for the 2025 collegiate campaign following an NFL tenure that yielded six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots. His collegiate debut season in 2025 concluded with a 4-8 record, leaving the program outside bowl contention.
Entering Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on October 10, 2026, North Carolina had dropped two consecutive games, including a 37-26 defeat against third-ranked Notre Dame. The victory over Pittsburgh brings the Tar Heels to within one win of matching their entire victory output from the 2025 season. “It’s great to come in here and win. Really proud of our team, we made some great plays and it was just an all-around solid team effort,” Belichick stated during his postgame press conference.
Prior to kickoff, Acrisure Stadium observed a moment of silence accompanied by a video tribute honoring Mike Ditka, the Pittsburgh football icon who died Friday at age 86.
Pending evaluations and next matchups for North Carolina and Pittsburgh
North Carolina defensive back Kaleb Cost left the game during the first quarter after colliding with the wall located behind the end zone. The exact severity and medical extent of Cost’s injury have not yet been confirmed by the team’s medical staff.
North Carolina will travel to face rival Duke on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. EDT in another conference matchup, while Pittsburgh prepares to host Boston College.
