News Article
Published
Oct 12, 2026 at 10:00 PM EDT
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick achieved the biggest win of his college football coaching career this past weekend, as the Tar Heels defeated the No. 25-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers, 21-17.
After losing to ACC squad Clemson and non-conference opponent Notre Dame, UNC's win over the Panthers may have briefly silenced critics who felt Belichick wasn't suited to coach NCAA football after his NFL success. And according to the man who coached Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl championships, this year's UNC roster has the dedication to win games.
"Generally speaking, this team is more engaged. They work harder. They're more dedicated and they put more into it, so they get more out of it. And it's important to them. Some of the players that left here, I don't know how important things were to them." Belichick told reporters.
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North Carolina defeated Pittsburgh in an impressive showing, where they had less time of possession, fewer third-down conversions, and 100 yards less total offense than their opponents. However, a 75-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. to Shamar Easter early in the fourth quarter and a tough defensive effort were enough for Belichick's team to win.
With Saturday's win, this season's UNC is looking much better than last season's squad. They finished 4-8 and near the bottom of the ACC standings, while this year's 3-2 team is 1-1 in the ACC with a chance to do significantly better if they build upon the momentum of beating Pittsburgh.
Coming up on the schedule, Belichick and UNC will play Duke on Saturday, Oct. 17, followed by hosting Syracuse on Oct. 24. They have a huge game against another ranked opponent, the ACC's Miami Hurricanes on Oct. 31.
The Miami matchup provides another opportunity for Belichick to get a signature victory. However, UNC faces a difficult challenge against quarterback Darien Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney, both of whom have generated early Heisman Trophy buzz.
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