Yes, UNC football was much more competitive especially on defense. But the Tar Heels still were rewarded only with heartbreak Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium. Coach Bill Belichick’s Heels suffered their fourth loss in a row, falling to Virginia 17-16 when Ben Hall came up just short of the goal line on a 2-point play in overtime.
The game was a defensive grind from the start. The teams traded first-half field goals before Virginia’s Chandler Morris hit Trell Harris for a 30-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter. UNC quarterback Gio Lopez answered with a 1-yard keeper to knot the score 10-10 just before halftime, but neither offense reached the end zone again in regulation.
UNC had multiple missed chances. Kobe Paysour fumbled at the goal line in the opening quarter, and a made field goal by Rece Verhoff just before halftime was wiped out when Virginia called timeout—the re-kick sailed wide. The Tar Heels also lost a fumble near the end zone in last week’s narrow defeat at Cal, adding to the frustration.
A GAME OF INCHES 🤯 @UVAFootball pic.twitter.com/EVHMNgi6Dd — ACC Network (@accnetwork) October 25, 2025
In overtime, Virginia’s J’Mari Taylor, a transfer from North Carolina Central, plunged in from the 1 for a 17-10 lead. UNC answered on a 9-yard scoring pass from Lopez to Davion Gause, then went for the win. Hall stretched for the pylon on the conversion attempt, but he was ruled down with the ball just a whisker from the pylon.
Lopez completed 23 of 36 passes for 208 yards with one touchdown. He threw two interceptions. Hall rushed for 50 yards on 11 carries, while Jordan Shipp caught seven passes for 67 yards. The North Carolina defense held Virginia to 59 rushing yards and 259 total yards, generating one turnover.
The Tar Heels (2-5, 0-3 ACC) visit Syracuse next Friday, Oct. 31 still searching for a win over a Power 4 opponent. Virginia (7-1, 4-0 ACC) continues to build on its best football season since 2007.
