Big plays by Carolina and bad plays by Syracuse led to the Tar Heels’ first win in six weeks, their first ACC win and Bill Belichick’s first win over a power 4 team in eight games.
It was Halloween in upstate New York and a horror show for the host Orange, who lost the leading passer in the nation in their fourth game and suffered their fifth straight defeat in what is now a 3-6 season heading nowhere but to the transfer portal to find a quarterback who can complete a dadgum pass.
In breaking their own painful four game losing streak, Carolina had by far the best QB on the field, a punishing trio of running backs and a defense that limited the impotent ‘Cuse to three offensive points in what many people may have missed because ESPN continues to screw the audience that made it a billion dollar company over the last 40 years.
Those viewers who accessed ESPN through YouTubeTV, Spectrum and other cable or streaming providers found themselves unable get the worldwide leader because Disney decided to offer programming through a new $30 per month bundle that is now the only way to get ESPN on your television.
Disney promoted the crap out of its new app but did not bother telling us they were pulling ESPN off the syndicators we were already paying to gain access. It was like an insurance company announcing that your healthcare providers are no longer in its network, pending negotiation, so you can wait to see if a deal gets done or find another insurer that covers your doctor and services.
What a country!
Meanwhile, on the field a dome was protecting the crowd from gruesome early winter weather that could not be an excuse for Syracuse completing 4 of 18 passes for 39 yards and an “awesome” 2.2 yards per catch.
Since the Orange lost starter Steve Angeli in the second half of their 34-21 road upset of Clemson, their replacements have included the statistically-worst QB in the ACC and a freshman walk-on and apparent lacrosse star whose only completion of 11 passes in the first half was on a flea-flicker that in a vacuum looked like a great play.
The Tar Heels trailed at intermission 10-6, thanks to their 11th fumble of the season and 12th giveaway that was turned into a scoop and score of 51 yards for the only touchdown of a first half that otherwise had three field goals. The Orange also lost a fumble, recovered by UNC’s Smith Vilbert, early in the fourth quarter that was their last breath.
Gio Lopez was good in the first half with 7 of 11 passing for 86 yards, but no short of spectacular after the break. The improving $2 million transfer completed all eight of his throws for 136 yards and two touchdowns, a 72-yard screen pass to and run down the sideline by freshman back Demon June and the sixth catch by sophomore Jordan Shipp for 21 yards in a beauty to the left side of the end zone that sealed the deal and 27-10 final score.
North Carolina wide receiver Jordan Shipp, right, scores a touchdown in front of Syracuse defensive back Devin Grant, left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
“That screen pass really got us out of that funk after the back-to-back field goals,” Lopez said. “Coach [Natrone] Means does a great job, we have so many great backs, he chose the hot hand and stayed with it.”
June had a college career night with 181 total yards that included 101 yards rushing, a 44-yard breakaway and UNC’s second touchdown that according to Jones Angell on the Tar Heel Sports Network produced Carolina’s “first multi-score lead of the season against the power 4 opponent.”
Belichick praised June after the game, saying he created many of his own yards by bouncing off and running over would-be tacklers and using a lethal straight arm to break away. June wore a wide smile when he said, “You just keep working hard and when your number is called you take advantage of it.”
The offensive line got better as the mismatch went on, blasting open holes for June, Davion Gause and Ben Hall, who combined for most of Carolina’s 209 yards on the ground. The rest of 425 total yards came from Gio’s brilliance of 250 through the air and churned out on the hybrid turf.
North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez (7) throws during the first half of an NCAA football game against Syracuse, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Steve Belichick’s defense had its best game of the season, but against what will wind up the worst opponent. His front line limited the only Syracuse threat Yasin Willis to 61 yards in 15 carries. Ironically, the longest runs were by two truly terrible quarterbacks taking off up the middle like Drake Maye (who goes after the Patriots’ sixth straight win Sunday at home against the Falcons).
Melkart Abou-Jaoude again led the defense with six tackles, two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
“I’m kind of in a groove,” said Abou-Jaoude, who had three sacks in the one-point loss to Virginia last week. “It’s a team game, I am rushing and the defense is covering receivers. It makes it hard for them. Our two-deep is all talented and we’re all doing our jobs.”
Carolina, now 3-5 and 1-3 in the ACC, returns for the homecoming game Saturday against Stanford, whose best win of the season was over Florida State, which has turned a good start into a total disaster that will likely cost Coach Mike Norvel his job.
Will Friday’s win against a power-less 4 opponent quell speculation about Belichick’s future in Chapel Hill? Probably not, even with a win over Stanford, which is 3-6 and 2-4 after losing to Pitt in Pal Alto.
The true proof in the pudding will come in their last three games against the other Big 4 opponents, at least two of whom the Tar Heels need to beat to get six wins overall and qualify for a minor bowl game. Syracuse outtackled the Heels only because Carolina owned more than 11 minutes of possession and had 62 snaps to 50 for the Orange.
In an up-and-down season, Syracuse was supposed to be their toughest road game, but awaiting instead was indubitably the worst team in the ACC that Carolina ran away from in the second half
“It feels good, it feels great,” said Belichick, able to crack a smile after his first win since September. “We’re looking forward to the rest of our games.”
Some of us saw this one on our TVs or tablets or phone, but my guess is many, many missed it thanks to ESPN’s awful marketing
Featured image via Associated Press/Adrian Kraus
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
