Are the North Carolina Tar Heels a decent football team? On Saturday, UNC delivered another fourth-quarter comeback, this time in Durham to beat archival Duke, 24-20.
North Carolina (4-2, 2-1 ACC) gave up a fourth-quarter lead for the third-straight Victory Bell matchup, but instead of folding late, offense marched right back down the Wallace Wade Stadium field and scored a game-winning touchdown. Sophomore running back Jaylen McGill anchored the Tar Heel rushing attack today, totaling 75 yards and his lone touchdown on a 24-yard, fourth-quarter sprint with two minutes left.
The Blue Devils (4-2, 1-2 ACC) had the football back one more time, but UNC's defense came through with another late stop. Freshman defensive back Kenton Dopson III intercepted
Duke quarterback Walker Eget with 14 seconds left, sending the North Carolina sideline into pandemonium.
The Tar Heels had two giveaways, but delivered the takeaway when it mattered most. Billy Edwards played turnover-free football, connecting with wide receiver Jordan Shipp for his first 2026 touchdown, while Demon June added a score on the ground.
UNC finally broke through the Blue Devils' impenetrable offensive line, with Peyton Seelmann and Xavier Lewis combining for a takedown. Seelmann and defensive back Greg Smith each generated 10 tackles, with Smith deflecting a pair of passes in proving himself as the secondary's leader. Duke star Nate Sheppard still had a big game, but North Carolina didn't let him takeover.
The Tar Heels now bring the Victory Bell back to Kenan Stadium for the first time since 2023. Here's five takeaways from Saturday's big win.
UNC's run defense showed major improvement
Sheppard totaled 175 scrimmage yards, but UNC held him to a season-low 77 rushing yards. Whether North Carolina game-planned specifically for the sophomore or not, its ability to neutralize his run game paid major dividends.
The Blue Devils still totaled 124 rushing yards, but didn't scoring a rushing touchdown. The Tar Heels' run defense entered Saturday as a major question mark, but left much-improved.
Jaylen McGill deserves a larger role
McGill scored UNC's first touchdown of the 2026 college football season, way back in Week Zero vs. TCU. On Saturday at Duke, McGill added his second score and led North Carolina with 75 rushing yards.
The Tar Heels' run game struggled vs. Notre Dame and at Pitt, but McGill revived it vs. his team's archival. When UNC hosts Syracuse next weekend, McGill should get the start.
Jordan Shipp's decision-making helped North Carolina win
Shipp scored the Tar Heels' first touchdown, catching a 5-yard pass from Edwards midway through the first quarter. Shipp leaped in the air to haul the Edwards throw in, but unlike the Indiana wide receiver earlier on Saturday, toe-tapped with the ball in his hands.
Shipp also led UNC with 75 receiving yards, continuing to showcase himself as one of the ACC's best and a reliable option for his quarterback.
Greg Smith III is the leader of North Carolina's secondary
If he's not snagging interceptions, Smith is tackling ball-carriers or deflecting passes. Smith was one of two Tar Heels to generate double-digit tackles vs. Duke, along with Seelmann, while deflecting a game-high two passes.
UNC has other stars in its secondary, like senior Kaleb Cost, but Smith is quickly emerging as a defensive leader. Smith was arguably North Carolina's best defender on Saturday, helping win back the Victory Bell.
The Tar Heels are a sneaky good football team
UNC already equaled its 2025 win total. North Carolina already has two separate winning streaks, with all four results against solid football programs. The 2026 Tar Heels are a deep, balanced squad who truly enjoys playing together.
UNC needs just two more wins to reach bowl eligibility, which seems very likely with the upcoming schedule. If North Carolina plays like it did in Durham, more upsets are on the horizon.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Five takeaways from UNC's fourth-quarter comeback win over Duke
