Heartbreak in Chapel Hill: UNC Falls to Syracuse 31-30 in Overtime Thriller (10-25-26)
BY: LMS NETWORK TEAM
HEADLINE PHOTO CREDIT: UNC FOOTBALL
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — October 24, 2026 — North Carolina saw a potential ACC victory slip away Saturday night as Syracuse stunned the Tar Heels 31-30 in overtime at Kenan Stadium.
The loss snapped UNC’s two-game winning streak, dropping the Tar Heels to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in ACC play.
Carolina opened the contest with an impressive offensive performance. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. connected with Jordan Shipp for a touchdown on the opening possession before kicker Rece Verhoff added a field goal, giving UNC an early 10-0 advantage.
The Tar Heels carried a 13-10 lead into halftime before extending their advantage to 20-10 in the third quarter on a 25-yard touchdown run by Demon June.
However, Syracuse refused to go away.
Orange quarterback Steve Angeli connected with Umari Hatcher for a 76-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, cutting UNC’s lead to 20-17. Verhoff responded with another field goal, but Syracuse answered with a late touchdown to force overtime at 23-23.
North Carolina struck first in the extra period when Edwards found June for a three-yard touchdown, giving the Tar Heels a 30-23 advantage.
Syracuse answered with a four-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Russell III before successfully converting a two-point attempt to secure the one-point victory.
Edwards finished with 271 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Shipp recorded eight receptions for 102 yards and a score. Defensively, Derek McDonald led UNC with 16 tackles.
Game Stats
| Category | UNC | Syracuse |
| Final Score | 30 | 31 |
| Total Yards | 372 | 455 |
| Passing Yards | 271 | 256 |
| Rushing Yards | 101 | 199 |
| First Downs | 20 | 23 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 9/17 | 8/19 |
| Time of Possession | 28:35 | 31:25 |
UNC Standouts
Billy Edwards Jr.: 271 passing yards, 2 touchdowns
Jordan Shipp: 8 receptions, 102 yards, 1 touchdown
Demon June: 1 rushing touchdown, 1 receiving touchdown
Derek McDonald: 16 tackles
What’s Next?
North Carolina returns to Kenan Stadium on October 31 to face top-ranked Miami.
Despite Saturday’s heartbreaking finish, the Tar Heels demonstrated offensive potential. However, closing out games remains a priority as UNC prepares for another challenging ACC matchup.
Final: Syracuse 31, North Carolina 30 (OT).
