The North Carolina Tar Heels needed to win Saturday's football game against UConn, particularly after a pair of close losses to Syracuse and Miami (FL).
UNC started rough, punting and turning the football over on its first two drives, then everything shifted with a game-changing turnover.
Sophomore linebacker Timir Hickman-Collins intercepted Kalieb Osborne's pass with five minutes left in the opening quarter, returned it 62 yards to the end zone and kickstarted North Carolina's 38-21 victory.
The Tar Heels (5-4, 2-3 ACC) forced an Osborne fumble early in second quarter action, then scored their third touchdown four plays later. UNC totaled 419 yards and scored in all four quarters, with five different players finding the end zone.
Jelani Thurman
continued his breakout campaign, catching two Billy Edwards touchdowns to reach eight this fall. With his eighth score, Thurman tied Mike Chatham's single-season record for most by a tight end. Thurman finished his afternoon with 64 yards and two scores, his second-straight week with multiple touchdowns.
Few people know how North Carolina's running back room will look on a given game day, with three starting-caliber backs in the fold. Jaylen McGill started the game and Demon June recorded a team-high 15 carries, but Benjamin Hall was the leader. Hall totaled 81 yards on just nine carries, with his highlight-reel carry a 39-yarder on third-and-9 that broke a 7-7 deadlock.
The Tar Heels have three more chances to reach bowl eligibility, continuing November 14 with another nightcap against Louisville. Let's take a look at several social media reactions from UNC's big win in New England.
There's a happy bunch of Tar Heels!
Victory vibes 😎 pic.twitter.com/fTKaIcr4YZ
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) November 7, 2026
JELANI IS THE BEST TE IN AMERICA pic.twitter.com/s73PZhtt6h
— NonStopCarolina🐏 (@NonStopCarolina) November 7, 2026
Jelani Thurman is a BEAST!
Now tied for the most touchdowns in a single season by a tight end in UNC history 🙌
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) November 7, 2026
📺 CBS Sports Network https://t.co/qLC2wurupb pic.twitter.com/OXWYXCKbYP
Tied it today with his eighth touchdown of the season. Tied with Mike Chatham, who did it in 1979. https://t.co/bLbvUof149 pic.twitter.com/iL8GljFs5l
— Anthony Pagnotta (Flounder) (@HTBAnthony) November 7, 2026
#UNC's Jelani Thurman, who tied Mike Chatham's single-season record for TD catches (eight) by a TE: "They put me in a leading role, having such a good position on the team and being utilized so much. I just just love being able to at least even tie the record, let alone beat it."
— Michael McCleary (@MikeJMcCleary) November 7, 2026
Bobby Petrino knows a thing or two about developing tight ends. He coached John Mackey Award winner D.J. Williams at Arkansas in 2010. We talked all offseason on @TarPitPod about how Jelani Thurman and this TE room could be one of the best units on Carolina’s roster. We expected…
— Trevor Williams (@heels365) November 7, 2026
To add to this how about the job @CoachPick53 has done with this tight end room?! From identifying talent to developing it, Pickrell deserves a ton of credit. This group has exceeded expectations! https://t.co/6njG6KbRf5 pic.twitter.com/PkZLiHZgnh
— Trevor Williams (@heels365) November 7, 2026
Postgame thoughts!
UConn football game thoughts. #UNC #GoHeels #CollegeFootball pic.twitter.com/qN4Ifw0ISk
— Andy Bagwell 🏀 (@ncbags) November 7, 2026
How good is UNC's red zone offense?
The Tar Heels have scored on 13 consecutive red zone trips, highlighted by 10 touchdowns. https://t.co/bQiNBaXNYQ
— Greg Barnes (@GSBarnes23) November 7, 2026
North Carolina is a fun team to watch
It sucks that this team had some opportunities that they didn’t close out, but the good news is, those breaks usually go the other way the next season. Regardless, we are going to feel so much different about this team heading into next year than we did going into this season. https://t.co/srkxQCGxMR
— Anthony Pagnotta (Flounder) (@HTBAnthony) November 7, 2026
Last reflection related to football for the day:
— UNC Barstool (@UNCBarstool) November 7, 2026
Coming into this season (especially with the schedule), I really did not expect a watchable product. We had all the staffing mess at the beginning, low morale from last year, what we thought was a disappointing portal etc. (1/2)
Wasn’t perfect, but finally a win against an FBS opponent where you didn’t have to sweat it out till the final second. Just one win away from bowl eligibility and feels like anything is possible with where this team feels like it is at mentally.
— Anthony Pagnotta (Flounder) (@HTBAnthony) November 7, 2026
That should seal it 🔥🔥
— UNC Barstool (@UNCBarstool) November 7, 2026
Love that the defense forced actual turnovers today instead of all those shoulda have beens.
The Thurman and Shipp duo showed out again.
RB committed all made an impact.
1 win away from Bowl Eligibility.
Onto Louisville.
Billy Edwards know how to share the love
Billy Edwards has 7 TD passes in the last 2 weeks
— Andrew Jones (@AJTarHeel247) November 7, 2026
Loved seeing the offense spread the ball around today. 10 different players caught a pass after 9 last week.
— Trevor Williams (@heels365) November 7, 2026
The Tar Heels are road warriors
UNC has won 3 straight road games: Pitt, Duke, and UConn, and has won four games away from Chapel Hill this season
— Andrew Jones (@AJTarHeel247) November 7, 2026
The signature Bill Belichick postgame quote
Stack emmmmmmm pic.twitter.com/jjPhtZLJgZ
— ♛Young Simba♛ (A Leaky Black Stan Account) (@CrownedPrinceHC) November 7, 2026
Forcing turnovers wins you games
#UNC's 3 takeaways today are a season high
— Michael Koh (@michaelkohwchl) November 7, 2026
Can UNC make a bowl game?
UNC is now 5-4, and would be a very strong candidate for an open bowl game if spots are available even if they lose out. Bill Belichick may be coaching in his first ever college bowl game. https://t.co/BpLoZd8LqM
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 7, 2026
With #UNC's 38-21 win over UConn, the Tar Heels sit just one win away from bowl eligibility.
— Noah Weiskopf (@NoahWeiskopf) November 7, 2026
UNC's remaining schedule:
vs. Louisville
@ Virginia
vs. NC State
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: How social media reacted to UNC's road smackdown of UConn
