BREAKING: Bill Belichick has achieved a milestone in his coaching career, securing his first win against a Power Four school as the head coach of North Carolina. The Tar Heels triumphed over Syracuse with a decisive score of 27-10 at the JMA Wireless Dome on October 31, 2025.
This victory marks Belichick’s inaugural win against an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent, a significant achievement that comes after a rocky start to the season. North Carolina’s performance was bolstered by a strong offensive display, particularly from quarterback Gio Lopez, who completed 15 of 19 passes for 216 yards and threw two touchdowns.
The game unfolded under challenging circumstances for Syracuse, which started walk-on true freshman quarterback Joe Filardi. The Orange have struggled with quarterback injuries this season, and Filardi’s inexperience showed as he completed just 4 of 18 passes for 39 yards. Coaches and analysts alike recognized the impact of these challenges on Syracuse’s game plan.
North Carolina’s running back, Demon June, also had a standout performance, achieving 101 rushing yards and an additional 81 receiving yards, contributing one touchdown on the ground and another through the air. This win was particularly important for the Tar Heels, who had not scored more than 20 points against an FBS team until this match.
After the game, Belichick expressed his relief and optimism, stating, “Feels good. Feels great. We had a couple of opportunities the last couple of weeks that we couldn’t capitalize on. It was good to get this one.” He added, “We all know in football it’s not who you play, it’s when you play them,” acknowledging the fortunate timing of facing Syracuse amidst their quarterback issues.
Looking ahead, North Carolina aims to build on this momentum as they prepare to face Stanford next Saturday, while Syracuse, now on a five-game losing streak, will seek to regroup against Miami.
This victory is a pivotal moment in Belichick’s transition from NFL coaching to the college football landscape, highlighting his resilience and strategic acumen. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on whether he can continue to leverage this win into a successful campaign for the Tar Heels.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story and the implications for both teams as they approach the next round of games.