Published October 17, 2026 07:20 PM
Bill Belichick has claimed that the first words he ever spoke were “Beat Duke,” because his father was an assistant coach at North Carolina. Now, a Belichick has beaten Duke for the first time.
Belichick’s North Carolina team beat Duke today, 24-20, blowing a 17-0 lead, falling behind 20-17 and then coming back with the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining.
In Belichick’s first season at North Carolina last year, his Tar Heels lost to Duke. And North Carolina went 0-3 against Duke in the three years that Belichick’s father, Steve Belichick, was a Tar Heels assistant. So this win was special for Belichick.
It’s also special because it’s more evidence that Belichick is turning things around after his disappointing debut season. The Tar Heels are now 4-2 after finishing 4-8 last year.
Whether Belichick can turn North Carolina into a college football power remains to be seen, but he has his team heading in the right direction, with a big win over a big rival today.