WhenBill Belichick was introduced as UNC head coach11 long months ago, he revealed, joked or lied that his first words as a child were "Beat Duke."
His program fell short of that goal on Saturday, and the result is a disappointing season will officially end next weekend. The Tar Heels lost to Duke 32-25, pushing their record down to 4-7 and leaving them unable to reach bowl eligibility next week against NC State.
It wasn't just any loss to their biggest rivals either. At home, UNC had come back from down 24-10 to take a 25-24 lead early in the fourth quarter. That remained the score until the final three minutes, when the Blue Devils lined up for a go-ahead field goal that would have given the Tar Heels the ball back with more than two minutes left and a two-point deficit.
And then Duke kicker Todd Pelino took the ball on a trick play and ran it 1 yard short of the end zone. Duke punched the ball in for a touchdown one play later.
THERE GOES TODD PELINO!!!!!pic.twitter.com/QU6b6TbOeE
— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL)November 22, 2025
One failed UNC drive later, featuring a sack and 24 yards' worth of penalties, Duke was celebrating the win and its own bowl eligibility at 6-5.
Belichick's first season in Chapel Hill had already been a massive disappointment, but to lose at home, to the rival you were apparently calling out since early childhood, on a trick play inthe phase of the game you were known for having encyclopedic knowledge, to break a six-year streak of bowl eligibility for the program you were supposed to revive, puts this into abject disaster territory.
UNC will play NC State on the road next Saturday to finish its season. Then an interesting offseason will begin.
