For North Carolina, Saturday’s 21-17 win over Pittsburgh finally snapped the drought and gave Bill Belichick his first victory over a top-25 opponent since he took over as the Tar Heels’ head coach in 2025. It was also the program’s first win of that type since 2023, when UNC beat Miami.
The performance itself wasn’t clean, and North Carolina was shaky in a lot of spots, but the snap counts still told an interesting story about where a few players stand coming out of Week 6. The Tar Heels’ offense was on the field for 52 snaps, while the defense handled 86.
One of the clearest signs of trust came with Sadler, who logged the second-most snaps among UNC receivers with 29. That workload led to two catches for 20 yards, and it also reinforced how strongly the staff views him. If he stays available, his role in the offense should keep growing as the season goes on.
On defense, Abou Jaoude’s usage stood out for a different reason. After missing two games earlier in the season and being limited against Notre Dame in Week 5, the 2025 ACC sack leader was back to a full load against Pittsburgh.
He played 72 snaps, a strong indication that he’s healthy enough to handle his usual workload again. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound edge rusher finished with two total tackles, a modest box score, but the bigger takeaway is that he should be available moving forward.
The flip side of the receiver rotation is Humphrey, whose standing keeps slipping. He didn’t catch a pass for the second straight game and has only three receptions for 38 yards this season.
Against Pittsburgh, he was on the field for 19 snaps, which was fewer than both Sadler and Trech Kekahuna. That’s a long way from the offseason hype, when Humphrey was the biggest winner and looked like he could become a major part of the passing game.
So far, that camp momentum hasn’t carried over.
McGill’s role has also thinned out. With Benjamin Hall and Demon June ahead of him on the depth chart, consistent playing time has been hard to come by, and against Pittsburgh he was limited to just eight snaps.
The sophomore running back had one carry for -4 yards and didn’t haul in his lone target. After contributing earlier in the season, his involvement has faded.
In Other News...
UNC's Secondary Suddenly Faces A Big Loss After Pitt Win
North Carolinas secondary took a hit in the win over Pittsburgh, when cornerback Tre Miller went down with a significant lower-body injury in the third quarter and never returned. The injury comes at a tough point in the season for a defense that has leaned on its depth in the back end, and Millers absence immediately changes the way the Tar Heels have to think about their corner rotation moving forward.
Kaleb Cost also left the game injured, adding another layer of uncertainty to a position group that can least afford it. With Miller reportedly doubtful to play again this season and Costs timeline still unclear, UNC is now waiting to see how much more help it can expect from a secondary already bracing for a stretch without key pieces. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Keeps Showing A Toughness Tar Heels Fans Havent Seen Recently
The early returns on Bill Belichicks first North Carolina team have offered something Tar Heels fans have been waiting to see again: a group that keeps fighting through the kinds of moments that used to bend this program. The 21-17 win over Pittsburgh fit that mold, with Jordan Shipp making plays at receiver and the defense, especially the secondary, holding up when the game tightened. Even the tight ends, Jelani Thurman and Shamar Easter, found ways to matter in a game that demanded composure.
UNC still has work to do, and the next step is obvious enough. The running game needs more consistency, and Billy Edwards Jr. has to keep settling in as the offenses centerpiece, but the broader sign is hard to miss. Under Belichick, the Tar Heels look more like a team that expects to survive the stress of a four-quarter fight, which is a different feel than what this fan base has gotten used to in recent years. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs Biggest ACC Question Did Not Go Away Against Pitt
North Carolinas 21-17 win over No. 25 Pittsburgh gave the Tar Heels something they badly needed, a conference victory that showed real defensive toughness and enough playmaking to survive a tight finish. At 3-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play, the record looks solid enough, and the defensive effort against a ranked opponent offered a reminder that this team can still win a grinder when the margin for error is thin.
Even so, the result did not quiet the lingering issue that has followed UNC through the early stretch of the season. Sixth-year senior Billy Edwards Jr. remains at the center of the concern, and the offense has not yet found the steady quarterback play the staff wants. If that does not change soon, the Tar Heels may have to at least consider other options behind center, because the kind of inconsistency they keep living with can only be covered up for so long. [Read more 🡒]