Bill Belichick earns first win against ranked opponent as UNC upsets No 25 Pitt on road: news

Bill Belichick Earns First Ranked Win as North Carolina Upsets No. 25 Pitt 21-17 on the Road

PITTSBURGH Head coach Bill Belichick secured the signature win of his college tenure on Saturday afternoon as the North Carolina Tar Heels stunned the previously unbeaten No. 25 Pittsburgh Panthers, 21-17, at Acrisure Stadium. The road upset marks Belichick’s first victory over a ranked opponent since taking over the UNC football program, halting a two-game skid and moving Carolina to 3-2 overall (1-1 ACC).

UNC Defense Stiffens After Early Deficit

Pittsburgh (5-1, 2-1 ACC) struck first, building a 10-0 second-quarter lead behind a La’Vell Wright touchdown run and an Antonio Chadha field goal. The Tar Heels answered before halftime when quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. connected with Jelani Thurman on an eight-yard touchdown pass to trim the deficit to 10-7.

After trading turnovers in the third quarterincluding a key red-zone interception by Carolina defensive back Gregory Smith IIIUNC grabbed its first lead, 14-10, courtesy of a one-yard touchdown plunge by Demon June. Pitt countered early in the fourth quarter with Wright’s second touchdown run of the day to retake a 17-14 advantage.

Billy Edwards Jr. to Shamar Easter Delivers the Decisive Strike

Carolina responded immediately on its next play from scrimmage. Edwards hit tight end Shamar Easter for an explosive 75-yard touchdown strike with 12:36 remaining, putting the Tar Heels ahead 21-17. Edwards finished the contest throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns.

From there, Belichick’s defense took total command in situational football. The Tar Heel unit turned Pitt over on downs on three consecutive fourth-quarter drivesincluding a crucial stop deep in Carolina territoryto drain the clock and close out the victory.

A Breakthrough Moment for Belichick’s Tar Heels

Following a challenging 4-8 debut campaign in 2025, taking down an undefeated Top 25 conference rival on the road highlights significant progress for North Carolina under Belichick’s leadership.

The Tar Heels will look to build on their momentum as they stay on the road next Saturday to face in-state rival Duke.