Bill Belichick Secures First Win Against Duke, Matching Previous Season's Total
In his second year as North Carolina's head coach, Belichick has already equaled his debut season's win count with six games played.
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick achieved a significant victory, defeating Duke 24-20. This win marks the first time a Belichick-led team has overcome Duke, breaking a decades-long family history of losses.
This success contributes to a strong turnaround for Belichick in his second season coaching at the collegiate level. Through six games this season, North Carolina has already matched the four wins achieved in his entire debut season.
"It’s all about character. These guys battled all the way," Belichick stated after the game. "Battled all the way against Notre Dame, Clemson. We’ve been fighting all the way. I don’t have any questions about their competitiveness, character, toughness."
The game saw North Carolina establish an early 17-0 lead in the second quarter. However, Duke mounted a comeback, scoring 20 unanswered points. The momentum nearly shifted further in Duke's favor when they recovered a fumble for a touchdown from North Carolina's own 9-yard line.
North Carolina also had a costly fumble in the red zone near the end of the third quarter, which negated a potential 24-10 lead that could have re-established control of the game. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. had led a strong drive before the turnover.
The Tar Heels ultimately secured the victory in the final minutes. With under two minutes remaining, Jaylen McGill scored a decisive 24-yard touchdown run. An interception with 14 seconds left in the game sealed the win for North Carolina.
Belichick and his team are set to play Syracuse next week before hosting No. 3 Miami on Halloween. The win over Duke also means the Tar Heels have reclaimed the Victory Bell, a traditional trophy exchanged between the two rivals.