North Carolina gets the first ACC win of Bill Belichick's tenure over Syracuse

North Carolina secured its first ACC victory of the season with a 27-10 win over Syracuse, improving its record to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the conference. This win is significant for the Tar Heels as it sustains their slim hopes of qualifying for a bowl game. The game turned in North Carolina's favor during the second half, with a pivotal moment occurring when Melkart Abo Jaoude's sack of Syracuse freshman quarterback Joseph Filardi led to a fumble recovery by Smith Vilbert. This set up a touchdown pass from Gio Lopez to Jordan Shipp, extending UNC's lead to 17 points.

Syracuse, now 1-5 in the ACC, started freshman Filardi due to injuries to previous starters, including Steve Angeli, who is out for the season. North Carolina aims to win three of its remaining four games to become bowl eligible, with upcoming matches against Stanford, Wake Forest, Duke, and NC State.