A strong running game defined UNC's offense through the first two weeks of its football season, one that head coach Bill Belichick praised after a Week 2 win vs. ETSU.
North Carolina's run game entered Saturday facing a tough task: the Pitt Panthers' second-ranked run defense. Pitt shut the Tar Heels down, limiting them to just 20 yards on 25 carries.
As a result, UNC starting leaning towards a pass-heavy offense under quarterback Billy Edwards, who struggled at Clemson and threw a pair of picks against Notre Dame. On Saturday, through, Edwards quarterbacked North Carolina to a 21-17 upset.
How good was Edwards? He generated his highest completion percentage against a Power Four opponent this fall, plus his two longest pass plays of the season.
Edwards completed 18 of his 26 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing a pair of interceptions. His longest passes were a 49-yarder to WR1 Jordan Shipp, plus the go-ahead, 75-yard touchdown strike to Shamar Easter in the fourth quarter.
Pitt's rush D lived up to the numbers, allowing UNC just 20 yards (43 sack-adjusted)
— Isaac Schade (@isaacschade) October 10, 2026
That means it was incumbent upon Billy Edwards to make enough plays with his arm. While not perfect, he had his highest completion % vs P4 opponent this season & 2 longest pass plays of the year
Shipp led the Tar Heels in receiving yards for a second-consecutive week, recording 93 on six catches. Tight end Jelani Thurman caught six passes for 29 yards and a touchdown, while Benjamin Hall, C.J. Sadler and Trech Kekahuna also caught passes.
Edwards is now up to 1,069 passing yards this fall, along with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He's developing strong chemistry with several pass-catchers, giving UNC much more of a threat through the air, compared to 2025.
North Carolina travels to Duke next week, looking for its first Victory Bell win since 2023. Will Edwards deliver again in clutch time?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Big play Billy Edwards helps UNC upset Pitt on Saturday afternoon
