University of North Carolina Athletics
Big Plays & Big Stops Define Tar Heels’ Big Win
October 11, 2026 | Football
The Tar Heels danced and chanted in the visitors locker room at Acrisure Stadium before quieting as head coach Bill Belichick began to speak.
"Fellas, that's the way to grind it out — never easy," said Belichick, encircled by his players. "Got to grind it out. We've been in a lot of close games, and we'll probably be in more of them."
UNC (3-2, 1-1 ACC) had just won 21-17 against No. 25 Pittsburgh, overcoming a 10-point deficit in earning its first ranked victory since 2023 and first on the road since 2020.
Belichick told his players to take it in stride but complimented them on how they managed to "out-tough and "out-compete" the previously undefeated Panthers before starting to walk away.
Not so fast, said Jordan Shipp. The Tar Heel captain had a game ball to give out.
"First. Ranked. Win," the junior wideout told his coach, slapping the ball between each word. "Plenty more to come. You go through a lot of fire. You help us prepare. You do a lot for us. First game ball, coach B!"
UNC wasn't perfect at Pitt, but there was a lot to like beyond just the result.
At the top of the list is the Tar Heels' togetherness. Belichick is impressed by his team's preparation, work ethic and discipline. And his players believe in one another and the coaching staff leading them.
"This team has really grown a lot," said Shipp, who made six catches for 93 yards, leading the Tar Heels in receiving for the second straight week.
After UNC fell behind 10-0, quarterback Billy Edwards took a deep shot on the first play of the ensuing drive and hit Shipp for a 49-yard reception. The connection was UNC's longest offensive play of the season up to that point (a short-lived distinction) and set up tight end Jelani Thurman's fourth TD reception of the year.
Shipp also hauled in two receptions on the Tar Heels' second scoring drive, including an impressive 9-yard leaping catch at the 1 yard line.
The chemistry between Edwards and Shipp is going to "open up a lot of stuff for the rest of the guys in our room," Shipp said.
For example: Shamar Easter.
The redshirt junior tight end had his first TD catch last week and made the biggest play of his career on Saturday, going untouched on a 75-yard score that gave UNC the lead back right after losing it in the fourth quarter. Ryan Switzer's 2013 punt return and Bug Howard's last-second catch in 2016 now have company when it comes to memorable Tar Heel game-winners against Pitt.
Belichick said it's hard to overthrow Easter, whom he called "part receiver, part tight end," and Edwards delivered a perfect ball. The Tar Heel head coach told his players they were the faster team, and they'd have to play like it.
"That play encapsulated a lot of what he said in the meetings this week," Edwards said.
Following Easter's TD, Pitt had three more drives to come back, but each attempt ended in a turnover on downs, a common occurrence for the hosts, who were 0-for-4 on fourth down.
The Panthers scored on two of their first three drives but just once on their final nine possessions.
After its run defense looked vulnerable early on, UNC buckled down and allowed only 2.4 yards per rushing attempt in the second half. Pitt quarterback Holden Geriner also started off strong, completing 15 of his first 20 passes for 99 yards. But the signal-caller went 12-of-24 for only 120 yards the rest of the way and threw two interceptions.
The first of those two picks came early in the third quarter, with Pitt looking to go ahead by two scores. On fourth down at the UNC 23 yard line, Geriner was blitzed by linebacker Peyton Seelmann and threw a ball up for grabs that safety Greg Smith III tracked down in the end zone.
That was one of four times UNC held Pitt scoreless after the Panthers had reached the UNC 35 yard line.
"Our job on defense is about points," Belichick said. "You can talk about yards and time of possession, but I don't see where that's up on the scoreboard."
The injuries UNC overcame made its defensive performance even more impressive. The Tar Heels were already without two starters up front with defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson and edge rusher Jaylen Harvey out.
Once the game started, UNC lost starters in its secondary, as Kaleb Cost went down on the game's opening drive and Tre Miller got injured as he returned his third-quarter interception.
Even with those guys sidelined, UNC for the second time this season showed it could win a close game with its defense.
"We have lots of great guys behind us, and they're ready to step up," said defensive lineman Xavier Lewis, who made a career-high 12 tackles. "When their number was called, they were ready to step up and make big plays for us."
When the Tar Heels came up short in its previous two games against Clemson and Notre Dame, they stressed that every week is different and they don't think about games that are in the past.
As sweet as Saturday was in Pittsburgh, the UNC players and coaches know they have another big opportunity next week in Durham. Belichick said as much as he finished his on-field interview with ESPN following the win.
"We'll just get ready for Duke."
