UPDATE: Bill Belichick has achieved his first victory against a Power Four school as the head coach of the University of North Carolina, leading the Tar Heels to a decisive 27-10 win over Syracuse on October 31, 2025, at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Belichick, who has struggled in his earlier matches with UNC. Former NFL running back Damien Harris commented on the win, stating it was expected given Belichick’s challenging debut. The Tar Heels’ success came amid a turbulent season for Syracuse, which has faced numerous quarterback injuries.
Syracuse’s struggles were highlighted as they started walk-on true freshman Joe Filardi at quarterback, who completed just 4 of 18 passes for 39 yards. The North Carolina defense exploited this weakness, ensuring a dominant performance. Prior to this game, North Carolina had not scored more than 20 points against an FBS team this season.
North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez shone brightly, completing 15 of 19 passes for 216 yards and throwing two touchdowns. Running back Demon June contributed significantly as well, rushing for 101 yards and adding 81 yards receiving, including a touchdown through the air and on the ground.
“Feels good. Feels great,” Belichick said after the game. “We had a couple of opportunities the last couple of weeks that we couldn’t capitalize on. It was good to get this one. So we look forward to all the rest of the games in the ACC.”
Belichick noted the importance of timing in football: “We all know in football it’s not who you play, it’s when you play them. We were probably fortunate to get them (now) as opposed to the week they played Clemson.”
Following this win, North Carolina will aim to maintain their momentum when they face Stanford, currently sitting at 3-5, next Saturday. On the other hand, Syracuse, now on a five-game losing streak, will look to recover against Miami on the same day.
This victory not only boosts the Tar Heels’ morale but also marks a turning point for Belichick in his college coaching career. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how this newfound success will shape the rest of the season.
Stay tuned for more updates as both teams prepare for their upcoming games.
