North Carolina’s latest ACC test comes with a familiar backdrop: the Victory Bell, a short trip down 15-501, and a 3:30 p.m. kickoff against Duke on Saturday in Durham.
After upsetting then-No. 25 Pitt 21-17 last weekend, the Tar Heels are back on the field looking to build on what was their second upset in five games.
That win gave Bill Belichick the first ranked victory of his collegiate coaching career. UNC dug out of an early 10-point hole, then flipped the game with a 75-yard fourth-quarter touchdown from Billy Edwards to Shamar Easter before the defense forced three straight Pitt turnovers to seal it.
Duke enters at 4-1, 1-1 in the ACC, coming off a painful 28-25 loss at Georgia Tech. The Blue Devils didn’t turn it over once, and Nate Sheppard piled up 190 scrimmage yards with two touchdowns, but Trelain Maddox delivered the game-winner for the Yellow Jackets with 54 seconds left.
This rivalry has delivered plenty of late drama already. The last two Victory Bell meetings were both decided by fourth-quarter lead changes, and Duke won each one.
In 2025, Davion Gause helped UNC erase a 14-point deficit and briefly grab a one-point lead early in the fourth quarter, only for Anderson Castle to score his third 1-yard touchdown with two minutes remaining. A year earlier, North Carolina saw a 20-0 third-quarter lead vanish after its offense and defense disappeared after halftime.
For fans trying to follow along, the game will be on ESPN2. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
ET. SiriusXM will carry the radio broadcast on Channel 266 for UNC and Channel 235 for Duke.
The betting line points to another tight one. The total is set at 47.5, and the score prediction is UNC 30, Duke 27.
North Carolina’s 2026 schedule also lists upcoming games at Pitt on Oct. 10, at Duke on Oct. 17, then home dates with Syracuse on Oct. 24 and Miami (FL) on Oct. 31, plus a trip to UConn on Nov. 7 and home games against Louisville on Nov. 14.
In Other News...
Duke Just Gave UNC A Huge Rivalry Week Problem
Dukes rivalry-week injury report has introduced another layer of uncertainty into a matchup that already carries plenty of tension for North Carolina. Running back Nate Sheppard is listed as a game-time decision, and his status matters because he has been Dukes most productive runner and one of the most important pieces of the Blue Devils offense.
If Sheppard cannot go, Duke would likely turn to CJ Campbell Jr., a less proven option with far less production and experience. For UNC, the difference between facing Duke with its lead back available or with a backup thrust into a bigger role could shape how the Tar Heels prepare for one of the seasons most closely watched games. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Just Sent A Message Before Duke Showdown
North Carolina mens soccer kept rolling with a 1-0 road win over No. 7 Pittsburgh, a result that added another quality line to an already strong stretch. Max Fisher delivered the decisive goal in the 51st minute, finishing a pass from Bertil Rygaard Hansen and giving the Tar Heels the kind of road result that can sharpen a teams edge this time of year.
The victory stretched UNCs winning streak to five games and snapped Pittsburghs six-match unbeaten run, a nice reminder that the Tar Heels are carrying real momentum into the biggest matchups ahead. With Duke next on the horizon, the timing of this performance matters almost as much as the result itself, since wins like this tend to travel well when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Volleyball Just Set Up A Massive ACC Showdown
North Carolinas volleyball team kept rolling Friday night with a straight-sets win at Notre Dame, a result that marked its third consecutive road sweep and pushed the Tar Heels to eight straight victories. Chelsea Thorpe and Safi Hampton led the way with 10 kills apiece, while Thorpe added seven blocks in another balanced performance from a team that has been hard to slow down away from home.
Now comes the bigger test. No. 23 Carolina heads into a showdown with No. 3 Louisville, and the timing could hardly be better for a Tar Heels group that has built momentum through a steady run of wins and efficient play on the road. It is the kind of matchup that can tell whether this surge is simply a hot stretch or something more lasting in the ACC race. [Read more 🡒]