UNC edges No. 25 Pitt 21-17 for Belichick's first ranked win — SkimNews
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- Billy Edwards Jr. hit Shamar Easter for a 75-yard go-ahead touchdown down the seam right after Pitt took a 17-14 lead, lifting North Carolina (3-2) past No. 25 Pittsburgh 21-17 for Bill Belichick's first ranked-opponent win at UNC
- The win marked UNC's first against a ranked opponent since beating No. 25 Miami in 2023 and its first ranked road win since taking down No. 9 Miami in 2020
- Holden Geriner, a fifth-year senior and 23-year-old Auburn transfer making his first collegiate start after Mason Heintschel tore the ACL in his right knee last week, finished 27-of-44 for 219 yards with two interceptions for Pitt
- Pitt sailed a fourth-down pass dropped by a wide-open Cataurus Hicks, then turned the ball over on downs at the UNC 21 as the Tar Heels held on
- La'Vell Wright scored two rushing touchdowns for Pitt (5-1), which failed to start 6-0 for the first time since 2024 and only the second time since 1982
- The game featured a moment of silence and video tribute for Mike Ditka, the Pitt All-American and Hall of Fame coach who led the Bears to a Super Bowl title and died Friday at age 86
Why it matters: For Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl champion in his debut college season, the win provides a signature ranked-opponent victory to validate UNC's trajectory at 3-2. For Pitt (5-1), a backup quarterback's first career start ended with two interceptions and a failed fourth-down conversion, costing the Panthers just their second 6-0 start opportunity since 1982.
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