North Carolina Defeats Syracuse, Secures Bill Belichick’s First ACC Win

In a significant matchup, the North Carolina Tar Heels triumphed over the Syracuse Orange, securing a 27-10 victory on October 31, 2025. This win marked North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick’s first victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and his inaugural success against a power-conference opponent this season.

Game Highlights

The Tar Heels showcased a powerful second-half performance, spearheaded by freshman running back Demon June, who scored two touchdowns. Prior to this win, North Carolina had faced a four-game losing streak and struggled in early games against power-conference opponents.

First Half Struggles

Despite dominating the first half statistically, with 208 yards gained compared to Syracuse’s 71 yards, the Tar Heels trailed 10-6 at halftime. Early in the first quarter, they settled for a 24-yard field goal after moving the ball to the Syracuse 1-yard line, due to a false start penalty on fourth-and-goal.

• Key plays included a 50-yard catch-and-run by receiver Kobe Paysour.
• UNC’s Shamar Easter fumbled, allowing Syracuse’s Anwar Sparrow to return it 51 yards for a touchdown.

Turning Point in the Second Half

The second half saw a remarkable turnaround. On the first play from scrimmage, June scored on a 73-yard screen pass, giving UNC its first lead against a power-conference team this season. Later in the third quarter, June added another touchdown with a five-yard run, culminating a drive of 12 plays covering 80 yards.

• June’s stats: 101 rushing yards and 81 receiving yards.
• Quarterback Gio Lopez contributed with a season-high 216 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Strong Defensive Effort

The North Carolina defense was also pivotal in this win. They allowed only three points during the second half and recorded three sacks. A critical play was when defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude forced a fumble from Syracuse quarterback Joe Filardi, setting up another touchdown for the Tar Heels.

Future Outlook for UNC

With this victory, the Tar Heels improved their overall record to 3-5 and 1-3 in the ACC. They are set to host Stanford next, followed by matches against Wake Forest, Duke, and NC State. To attain bowl eligibility in Belichick’s first season, UNC will need to win three of these final four games.

Game Summary

In this impressive performance, the Tar Heels demonstrated resilience and growth, laying the foundation for their upcoming games as they strive for improved outcomes in the remainder of the season.