Billy Edwards Jr. needed only one throw to flip Saturday’s game, and North Carolina made it count.
After No. 25 Pittsburgh had nudged in front 17-14, Edwards answered with a 75-yard strike to Shamar Easter down the seam, and the Tar Heels rode that momentum to a 21-17 upset in Pittsburgh. The play put Bill Belichick over the top for his first win against a ranked opponent at North Carolina.
“Every play is designed to be an 80-yard touchdown,” Edwards said. “They obviously don’t all go that way, but it felt really nice to see Shamar catch and run with that.”
North Carolina improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the ACC, and the win checked a couple of important boxes along the way: it was the Tar Heels’ first victory over a ranked team since beating No. 25 Miami in 2023, and their first ranked road win since knocking off No. 9 Miami in 2020.
Edwards finished 18 of 26 for 249 yards, with touchdown passes to Easter and Jelani Thurman and two interceptions. Demon June added a rushing touchdown, while Jordan Shipp turned in a strong day with six catches for 93 yards.
“It’s great to come in here and win,” Belichick said. “Really proud of our team, we made some great plays and it was just an all-around solid team effort.”
Pitt, now 5-1 and 2-1, was led by Holden Geriner in his first collegiate start. The fifth-year senior completed 27 of 44 passes for 219 yards and threw two interceptions. The 23-year-old transfer from Auburn stepped in after sophomore quarterback Mason Heintschel was lost for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee in last week’s win over Virginia Tech.
“Obviously, his first start … he will get better and better just from the experiences,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “Got a lot of faith and trust in him. I was happy with the way he played in his first start.”
Pitt had chances late, but the finish never came. Geriner overthrew a fourth-down pass that slipped through the hands of a wide-open Cataurus Hicks, and later the Panthers turned it over on downs at the North Carolina 21 as the Tar Heels closed it out.
La’Vell Wright scored twice on the ground for Pitt, but it wasn’t enough to offset the second-half swing.
“It’s one game,” Narduzzi said. “Whoever plays in that championship game is going to have a loss. All of our goals are right in front of us.”
For Belichick, the afternoon carried a little extra familiarity. It was his first visit to Acrisure Stadium since the New England Patriots beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-18 on Dec.
7, 2023. He went 8-3 there as an NFL head coach, including wins in two AFC championship games.
“A lot of memories from being back here, mostly good, but we got waxed a couple times,” Belichick said. “It was great to come in here and win, but most importantly I’m proud for the players and the way they played.”
The day also included a pregame moment of silence and a video tribute honoring Mike Ditka, the Pitt All-American who died Friday at 86 after a Hall of Fame career as a player and coach. Pitt also marked the 50th anniversary of its 1976 national championship team.
Ditka, a three-sport standout at Pitt, led the Panthers in receiving as a tight end from 1958-60 while also playing defensive end and punter. Pitt retired his No. 89 in 1997.
North Carolina now turns to Duke on Oct. 17.
Pitt will visit Boston College on Oct. 17.
In Other News...
Kaleb Cost Injury Overshadowed UNC Win For One Scary Reason
UNCs 21-17 win at Pittsburgh came with an unsettling scene late in the game when defensive back Kaleb Cost went down after colliding with a concrete wall behind the end zone. The impact sent his helmet flying into the crowd, turning a routine football play into a scary moment for everyone nearby and briefly overshadowing what should have been a hard-earned road victory for the Tar Heels.
Cost had to leave with trainers and was ruled out after the injury, but the concern did not stop with the player on the field. Medical personnel also assisted a fan who appeared to be struck by the helmet, adding another layer of worry to an already alarming sequence that left UNC with a win, and a lot of unease, to sort through afterward. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Finally Has Momentum But Two Problems Still Havent Gone Away
North Carolina finally had something to feel good about after snapping a two-game skid with a 21-17 win over Pittsburgh, a result that offered a much-needed reset after a rough stretch. The Tar Heels got timely plays on both sides of the ball, with Shipp leading the offense with six catches for 93 yards and Smith and Geriner each coming up with interceptions to help tilt a close game their way.
Even with the victory, the bigger concerns around this team did not disappear. The rushing attack still struggled to generate much, and the defense had its own issues against the Panthers on the ground, allowing 150 rushing yards that kept Pittsburgh in the game far longer than North Carolina probably wanted. The win provides momentum, but it also leaves the same questions hanging over the Tar Heels as they move ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Denis Just Gave UNC Fans A Reason To Reconsider Him
Isaiah Denis spent much of last season on the margins because of injury, but his showing in UNCs exhibition win offered a reminder of why the staff has kept investing in him. In 20 minutes under new coach Michael Malone, Denis scored 14 points, grabbed four rebounds and knocked down two 3-pointers, giving the Tar Heels a burst of production from a player whose role has been far from settled.
Denis said the game carried extra weight for him, and his performance seemed to reflect a player trying to answer questions about where he fits in the programs future. Malones trust and coaching style were part of the equation, and he also praised Denis for his development and for sticking with the team through coaching changes, a small but meaningful sign of buy-in as UNC settles into a new era. [Read more 🡒]