Bill Belichick, North Carolina beat Syracuse to earn first ACC win Craig Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORKNovember 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM 0 Bill Belichick, North Carolina beat Syracuse to earn first ACC win For Halloween this year, Bill Belichick got a different kind of treat. In the middle of his taxing and occasionally disastrous first season at North Carolina, Belichick and his Tar Heels were able to pick up their first win in ACC play this season, going on the road to knock off Syracuse 2710 on Friday, Oct. 31 at the JMA Wireless Dome.
- - Bill Belichick, North Carolina beat Syracuse to earn first ACC win
Craig Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORKNovember 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
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Bill Belichick, North Carolina beat Syracuse to earn first ACC win
For Halloween this year, Bill Belichick got a different kind of treat.
In the middle of his taxing and occasionally disastrous first season at North Carolina, Belichick and his Tar Heels were able to pick up their first win in ACC play this season, going on the road to knock off Syracuse 27-10 on Friday, Oct. 31 at the JMA Wireless Dome.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for North Carolina, which improved its record to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the ACC.
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Ryan Day, Ohio State, $12,575,000
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Ryan Day, Ohio State, $12,575,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/XDs1iuf class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Ryan Day, Ohio State, $12,575,000
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Ryan Day, Ohio State, $12,575,000
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Lincoln Riley, Southern California, $11,537,560
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Lincoln Riley, Southern California, $11,537,560
" data-src=https://ift.tt/YUVwaTR class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Lincoln Riley, Southern California, $11,537,560
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Lincoln Riley, Southern California, $11,537,560
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Dabo Swinney, Clemson, $11,382,775
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Dabo Swinney, Clemson, $11,382,775
" data-src=https://ift.tt/BaKmjfR class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Dabo Swinney, Clemson, $11,382,775
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Dabo Swinney, Clemson, $11,382,775
" src=https://ift.tt/BaKmjfR class=caas-img> -
Steve Sarkisian,Texas, $10,800,000
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Steve Sarkisian,Texas, $10,800,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/GfDBluq class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Steve Sarkisian,Texas, $10,800,000
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Steve Sarkisian,Texas, $10,800,000
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Dan Lanning, Oregon, $10,400,00
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Dan Lanning, Oregon, $10,400,00
" data-src=https://ift.tt/z6fUrLW class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Dan Lanning, Oregon, $10,400,00
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Dan Lanning, Oregon, $10,400,00
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Kalen DeBoer, Alabama, $10,250,000
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Kalen DeBoer, Alabama, $10,250,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/pHQcfdg class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama, $10,250,000
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Kalen DeBoer, Alabama, $10,250,000
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Brian Kelly, LSU, $10,175,000
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Brian Kelly, LSU, $10,175,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/7SdJOBD class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Brian Kelly, LSU, $10,175,000
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Brian Kelly, LSU, $10,175,000
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Bill Belichick, North Carolina, $10,100,000
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Bill Belichick, North Carolina, $10,100,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/6sNbXGS class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Bill Belichick, North Carolina, $10,100,000
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Bill Belichick, North Carolina, $10,100,000
" src=https://ift.tt/6sNbXGS class=caas-img>T10. Josh Heupel, Tennessee, $9,000,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/O3BYd5z class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption="
T10. Josh Heupel, Tennessee, $9,000,000
">T10. Josh Heupel, Tennessee, $9,000,000
" src=https://ift.tt/O3BYd5z class=caas-img>T10. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri, $9,000,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/fPXpZsl class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption="
T10. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri, $9,000,000
">T10. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri, $9,000,000
" src=https://ift.tt/fPXpZsl class=caas-img>T10. Mark Stoops, Kentucky, $9,000,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/9VSUL4O class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption="
T10. Mark Stoops, Kentucky, $9,000,000
">T10. Mark Stoops, Kentucky, $9,000,000
" src=https://ift.tt/9VSUL4O class=caas-img>T10. Lane Kiffin, Mississippi, $9,000,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/1qeuyB3 class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption="
T10. Lane Kiffin, Mississippi, $9,000,000
">T10. Lane Kiffin, Mississippi, $9,000,000
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Deion Sanders, Colorado, $8,975,000
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Deion Sanders, Colorado, $8,975,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/hnUqY8E class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Deion Sanders, Colorado, $8,975,000
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Deion Sanders, Colorado, $8,975,000
" src=https://ift.tt/hnUqY8E class=caas-img>T15. James Franklin, Penn State, $8,500,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/NHmQ5BX class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption="
T15. James Franklin, Penn State, $8,500,000
">T15. James Franklin, Penn State, $8,500,000
" src=https://ift.tt/NHmQ5BX class=caas-img>T15. Matt Rhule, Nebraska, $8,500,00
" data-src=https://ift.tt/mNBKQ4v class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption="
T15. Matt Rhule, Nebraska, $8,500,00
">T15. Matt Rhule, Nebraska, $8,500,00
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Mario Cristobal, Miami, $8,302,883
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Mario Cristobal, Miami, $8,302,883
" data-src=https://ift.tt/efiXmWL class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Mario Cristobal, Miami, $8,302,883
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Mario Cristobal, Miami, $8,302,883
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Curt Cignetti, Indiana, $8,300,000
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Curt Cignetti, Indiana, $8,300,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/AFVMsW2 class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Curt Cignetti, Indiana, $8,300,000
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Curt Cignetti, Indiana, $8,300,000
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Bret Bielema, Illinois, $8,200,000
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Bret Bielema, Illinois, $8,200,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/oVtHeGX class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Bret Bielema, Illinois, $8,200,000
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Bret Bielema, Illinois, $8,200,000
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Shane Beamer, South Carolina, $8,150,000
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Shane Beamer, South Carolina, $8,150,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/IcniKUR class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Shane Beamer, South Carolina, $8,150,000
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Shane Beamer, South Carolina, $8,150,000
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Luke Fickell, Wisconsin, $7,825,000
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Luke Fickell, Wisconsin, $7,825,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/2F1EKAn class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Luke Fickell, Wisconsin, $7,825,000
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Luke Fickell, Wisconsin, $7,825,000
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Jedd Fisch, Washington, $7,575,024
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Jedd Fisch, Washington, $7,575,024
" data-src=https://ift.tt/uzZFi1j class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Jedd Fisch, Washington, $7,575,024
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Jedd Fisch, Washington, $7,575,024
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Brent Venables, Oklahoma, $7,552,000
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Brent Venables, Oklahoma, $7,552,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ZRmDK97 class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Brent Venables, Oklahoma, $7,552,000
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Brent Venables, Oklahoma, $7,552,000
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Billy Napier, Florida, $7,470,000
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Billy Napier, Florida, $7,470,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/3RbdXOj class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Billy Napier, Florida, $7,470,000
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Billy Napier, Florida, $7,470,000
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Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State, $7,442,000
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Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State, $7,442,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/FRvQnY0 class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State, $7,442,000
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Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State, $7,442,000
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Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame, $7,421,201
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Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame, $7,421,201
" data-src=https://ift.tt/X37oStY class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame, $7,421,201
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Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame, $7,421,201
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Jonathan Smith, Michigan State, $7,350,000
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Jonathan Smith, Michigan State, $7,350,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/1vcExVA class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Jonathan Smith, Michigan State, $7,350,000
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Jonathan Smith, Michigan State, $7,350,000
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Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh, $7,259,909
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Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh, $7,259,909
" data-src=https://ift.tt/iDmMxnH class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh, $7,259,909
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Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh, $7,259,909
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Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, $7,175,000
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Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, $7,175,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/FDed6xG class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, $7,175,000
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Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, $7,175,000
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Sonny Dykes, TCU, $7,036,013
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Sonny Dykes, TCU, $7,036,013
" data-src=https://ift.tt/EXlYUAx class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption=" -
Sonny Dykes, TCU, $7,036,013
"> -
Sonny Dykes, TCU, $7,036,013
" src=https://ift.tt/EXlYUAx class=caas-img>T31. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota, $7,000,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/40btirf class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption="
T31. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota, $7,000,000
">T31. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota, $7,000,000
" src=https://ift.tt/40btirf class=caas-img>T31. Mike Elko, Texas A&M, $7,000,000
" data-src=https://ift.tt/MtqSyAN class=caas-img data-headline="Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32." data-caption="
T31. Mike Elko, Texas A&M, $7,000,000
">T31. Mike Elko, Texas A&M, $7,000,000
" src=https://ift.tt/MtqSyAN class=caas-img>
1 / 32Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.In USA TODAY Sports' review of compensation for Division I football head coaches, we found 32 are earning $7,000,000 or more this season. Georgia's' Kirby Smart is No. 1 at $13,282,580 million.
Belichick's maiden voyage in college football hasn't gone quite how his employer expected when it hired the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach last December.
The Tar Heels lost their first three games against Power Four opponents by a combined score of 120-33 and were more notable for what they were doing off the field than on it, whether it was the scrapping of a planned series about the program on Hulu or reports of general manager Michael Lombardi taking a fundraising trip to Saudi Arabia.
In recent weeks, though, a North Carolina team that had become a punchline has looked markedly improved. The Tar Heels came agonizingly close to wins against Cal and Virginia this month, losing by a combined four points. Against the Cavaliers last Saturday, North Carolina came up inches short of what would have been a game-winning two-point conversion in overtime against a top-20 opponent.
On Friday, that progress finally resulted in a win.
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The Tar Heels' defense continued to impress, holding Syracuse to just 147 total yards and 2.9 yards per play. Over its past three games, North Carolina is allowing only 15.7 points per game.
What has been an impotent offense for much of the season showed a spark against the Orange, putting up 425 yards and 27 points, both of which were season highs against an FBS opponent. Freshman running back Demon June carried much of the load, racking up 182 total yards and two touchdowns, including a 72-yard touchdown reception off a screen pass from quarterback Gio Lopez.
First career receiving touchdown for the rook 🤌📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/QFWGihabiV
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) November 1, 2025
A Syracuse team that beat Clemson by two touchdowns on the road back in September has struggled since losing quarterback Steve Angeli to a season-ending injury. The Orange have lost five games in a row while averaging only 12 points per contest.
The victory wasn't just a morale boost for Belichick and his squad.
With four regular-season games remaining, the Tar Heels are still in contention for the postseason, needing to go 3-1 the rest of the way to get to bowl eligibility. It's not totally out of the realm of possibility. They have two games remaining against teams that don't have winning records, 3-5 Stanford and 4-4 NC State, though they'd also need at least one win against 5-2 Wake Forest or 4-3 Duke.
If nothing else, their coach is bullish about what awaits.
"Let's get used to it. We're gonna win a lot more games around here, OK," Belichick said to his players in the locker room after the game. "But you can see the potential we have. We just gotta keep working, keep grinding, fix a few little things here and there, and things are gonna be a lot different going forward."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Belichick, North Carolina beat Syracuse for first ACC win
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: November 01, 2025 at 06:27PM on Source: EVENING MAG
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