University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, October 10
Pittsburgh, Pa. (Acrisure Stadium)
Noon
North Carolina
3-2 , 1-1
21
at
17
#25 Pitt
5-1 , 2-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Pitt | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Shamar Easter
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
Defense, Late Easter TD Lead Football To Big Road Win At No. 25 Pitt, 21-17
October 10, 2026 | Football
PITTSBURGH—Shamar Easter caught a 75-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown pass and North Carolina withstood a wild fourth quarter to beat No. 25 Pitt, 21-17, on Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium.
It was UNC's first win over a ranked foe in three seasons, its first road victory over a top-25 opponent since beating No. 9 Miami in 2020 and head coach Bill Belichick's first win over a ranked foe.
The Tar Heel defense excelled and forced three consecutive turnovers on downs by Pitt to close the game in a strong, second-half effort.
Carolina improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with the victory. The Panthers suffered their first loss of the year and fell to 5-1, 2-1.
Tar Heel quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. connected on 18 of 26 throws for 249 yards, two scores and a pair of interceptions. Making his first career collegiate start, Panther QB Holden Geriner completed 27 of 44 passes for 219 yards and two pickoffs.
Wide receiver Jordan Shipp caught six Edwards passes for 93 yards, including a key, 49-yarder. Tight end Jelani Thurman also grabbed six throws for 29 yards, including one for a touchdown.
On four consecutive drives entering the fourth quarter, the Tar Heel defense limited Pitt to a missed field goal, two interceptions and a punt. After a 40-yard catch by Malik Knight, the Panthers scored to make the score 17-14.
A play later, Carolina responded with the 75-yard scoring toss from Edwards to Easter that gave the lead back to the Tar Heels, 21-17.
The UNC defense clamped down to force a punt and three consecutive turnovers on downs in the final 10 minutes to preserve the victory.
Even though Pitt posted advantages in total yards (369 to 269), rushing yards (150 to 20) and time of possession (36:40 to 23:20), the Tar Heel defense came up big when it mattered late in the game.
Up Next
Carolina will play its second consecutive road game when it visits Duke next Saturday October 17 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
How It Happened
First Quarter
• The Panthers moved effectively for a touchdown after the opening kickoff, mounting a 12-play drive that included eight rushes for 53 yards. After a pass interference penalty in the end zone by Greg Smith III, Pitt scored on the next play on a one-yard sweep around the left side by La'Vell Wright
Second Quarter
• Pitt took a 10-0 halfway through the second quarter on a 41-yard field goal by Antonio Chadha.
• On the ensuing possession, Carolina responded with a quick, five-play, 75-yard drive to make the score 10-7. Edwards started the drive with a 49-yard completion to Shipp, and he finished it with an eight-yard scoring toss to Thurman.
• The Panthers missed a field goal in the final 30 seconds of the half and took a 10-7 lead into the locker room at the break.
Third Quarter
• The teams combined for three interceptions in the first 15 plays and 6:06 of the second half.
• Pitt's Cole Woodson intercepted Edwards on Carolina's opening second-half drive, giving the Panthers the ball at the Tar Heel 31-yard line. A Tar Heel blitz led Geriner to throw an interception snared by Smith in the end zone. It was Smith's third pickoff of the season, preserving a 10-7 score.
• Carolina took its first lead of the game at 14-10 when Demon June ran it in from a yard out with 22 seconds left in the third period.
Fourth Quarter
• Pitt replied with a methodical, 75-yard drive to start the fourth and retake the lead at 17-14 on Wright's second score of the day with 12:47 remaining.
• On Carolina's first play from scrimmage on the next drive, Edwards hooked up with Easter for a 75-yard score that immediately made it 21-17 Tar Heels
• With 6:31 left in the game, Edwards threw the ball up to try to avoid a sack, but it went off Shipp's fingertips and Pitt's Shadarian Harrison intercepted it at the Panther 41 to shift momentum. The back-and-forth second half continued, however, when the Tar Heel defense forced a turnover on downs inside its own red zone with 4:14 remaining.
• UNC's defensive unit held for three consecutive fourth-down attempts by Pitt to end the game.
Follow Tar Heel football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
It was UNC's first win over a ranked foe in three seasons, its first road victory over a top-25 opponent since beating No. 9 Miami in 2020 and head coach Bill Belichick's first win over a ranked foe.
The Tar Heel defense excelled and forced three consecutive turnovers on downs by Pitt to close the game in a strong, second-half effort.
Carolina improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with the victory. The Panthers suffered their first loss of the year and fell to 5-1, 2-1.
Tar Heel quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. connected on 18 of 26 throws for 249 yards, two scores and a pair of interceptions. Making his first career collegiate start, Panther QB Holden Geriner completed 27 of 44 passes for 219 yards and two pickoffs.
Wide receiver Jordan Shipp caught six Edwards passes for 93 yards, including a key, 49-yarder. Tight end Jelani Thurman also grabbed six throws for 29 yards, including one for a touchdown.
On four consecutive drives entering the fourth quarter, the Tar Heel defense limited Pitt to a missed field goal, two interceptions and a punt. After a 40-yard catch by Malik Knight, the Panthers scored to make the score 17-14.
A play later, Carolina responded with the 75-yard scoring toss from Edwards to Easter that gave the lead back to the Tar Heels, 21-17.
The UNC defense clamped down to force a punt and three consecutive turnovers on downs in the final 10 minutes to preserve the victory.
Even though Pitt posted advantages in total yards (369 to 269), rushing yards (150 to 20) and time of possession (36:40 to 23:20), the Tar Heel defense came up big when it mattered late in the game.
Up Next
Carolina will play its second consecutive road game when it visits Duke next Saturday October 17 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
How It Happened
First Quarter
• The Panthers moved effectively for a touchdown after the opening kickoff, mounting a 12-play drive that included eight rushes for 53 yards. After a pass interference penalty in the end zone by Greg Smith III, Pitt scored on the next play on a one-yard sweep around the left side by La'Vell Wright
Second Quarter
• Pitt took a 10-0 halfway through the second quarter on a 41-yard field goal by Antonio Chadha.
• On the ensuing possession, Carolina responded with a quick, five-play, 75-yard drive to make the score 10-7. Edwards started the drive with a 49-yard completion to Shipp, and he finished it with an eight-yard scoring toss to Thurman.
• The Panthers missed a field goal in the final 30 seconds of the half and took a 10-7 lead into the locker room at the break.
Third Quarter
• The teams combined for three interceptions in the first 15 plays and 6:06 of the second half.
• Pitt's Cole Woodson intercepted Edwards on Carolina's opening second-half drive, giving the Panthers the ball at the Tar Heel 31-yard line. A Tar Heel blitz led Geriner to throw an interception snared by Smith in the end zone. It was Smith's third pickoff of the season, preserving a 10-7 score.
• Carolina took its first lead of the game at 14-10 when Demon June ran it in from a yard out with 22 seconds left in the third period.
Fourth Quarter
• Pitt replied with a methodical, 75-yard drive to start the fourth and retake the lead at 17-14 on Wright's second score of the day with 12:47 remaining.
• On Carolina's first play from scrimmage on the next drive, Edwards hooked up with Easter for a 75-yard score that immediately made it 21-17 Tar Heels
• With 6:31 left in the game, Edwards threw the ball up to try to avoid a sack, but it went off Shipp's fingertips and Pitt's Shadarian Harrison intercepted it at the Panther 41 to shift momentum. The back-and-forth second half continued, however, when the Tar Heel defense forced a turnover on downs inside its own red zone with 4:14 remaining.
• UNC's defensive unit held for three consecutive fourth-down attempts by Pitt to end the game.
Follow Tar Heel football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Tight End
/ Football
Quarterback
/ Football
Running Back
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Defensive Back
/ Football
Tight End
/ FootballTeam Stats
UNC
PGH
Total Yards
269
369
Pass Yards
249
219
Rushing Yards
20
150
Penalty Yards
22
42
1st Downs
13
23
3rd Downs
3
7
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
23:28
36:32
1st Quarter
UNC 0, PGH 7
PGH - Wright,La'Vell 2 yd run (Chadha,Antonio kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:11
2nd Quarter
UNC 0, PGH 10
PGH - Chadha,Antonio 41 yd field goal 14 plays, 67 yards, TOP 07:00
UNC 7, PGH 10
UNC - Thurman,Jelani 7 yd pass from Edwards Jr.,Billy (Verhoff,Rece kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:14
3rd Quarter
UNC 14, PGH 10
UNC - June,Demon 1 yd run (Verhoff,Rece kick), 10 plays, 51 yards, TOP 04:13
4th Quarter
UNC 14, PGH 17
PGH - Wright,La'Vell 1 yd run (Chadha,Antonio kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:35
UNC 21, PGH 17
UNC - Easter,Shamar 75 yd pass from Edwards Jr.,Billy (Verhoff,Rece kick) 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:11
Game Leaders
CMP
18
TD
2
YDS
249
INT
2
Sunday, October 11
Saturday, October 10
Saturday, October 10
Saturday, October 10