Belichick Secures First Ranked Win as UNC Tops No. 25 Pitt
The Tar Heels mounted a second-half comeback to defeat the Panthers on the road.
Bill Belichick achieved his most significant victory as the head coach of North Carolina on Saturday, guiding the Tar Heels to a 21-17 road upset over No. 25 Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium. This marks Belichick's first win against a ranked opponent in his tenure with UNC.
The Tar Heels' victory was their first over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 25 Miami in 2023 and their first road win against a ranked opponent since beating No. 9 Miami in 2020.
"Gutsy performance. Kept battling against a good football team," Belichick said after the game. "We just kept hanging in there. We made a couple big plays, and they made a couple too. They’re a good football team."
North Carolina trailed 10-0 before mounting a comeback in the second quarter. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. connected with tight end Jelani Thurman for a 7-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the deficit to 10-7.
Late in the third quarter, UNC took its first lead of the game when Demon June scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, making the score 14-10. Pitt responded with a 75-yard drive capped by La'Vell Wright's 1-yard touchdown run, regaining the lead at 17-14.
Edwards quickly answered for North Carolina, completing a 75-yard touchdown pass to tight end Shamar Easter on the next possession, giving the Tar Heels a 21-17 lead that they held for the remainder of the game.
With the win, North Carolina improved its record to 3-2. The Tar Heels will face rival Duke next week. Pitt fell to 5-1 and is set to play Boston College. 
