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Syracuse’s season is falling apart fast. SU hired Fran Brown to avoid forgettable seasons, but his second season in charge is heading in that direction. The Orange have lost four straight, with their latest defeat coming against then-No. 7 Georgia Tech. Another loss would tie Dino Babers’ losing streak in 2023, before he got fired.

If Syracuse wants to avoid that mark, it has to get by Bill Belichick and North Carolina. Record-wise, the Tar Heels are actually having a worse season than the Orange, while off-the-field drama surrounding Belichick and his future has constantly followed the program. However, UNC nearly upset then-No. 16 Virginia last weekend.

Rather than tying the game at 17 in overtime with an extra point, Belichick opted to go for it. Running back Ben Hall came up inches short of a massive win for North Carolina. Instead, the Tar Heels remain winless in conference play, looking to get on the board in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Here’s everything to know before Syracuse’s (3-5, 1-4 Atlantic Coast) Halloween tilt against North Carolina (2-5, 0-3 ACC):

All-time series

UNC leads 4-3

Last time they played

Syracuse was demolished 40-7 in Chapel Hill on Oct. 7, 2023. The loss was SU’s second of a five-game losing streak, which eventually led Babers to be fired. Current New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye lit up SU for 442 yards and three passing touchdowns. The Orange allowed 644 yards total, their most since 2016. They only managed 221, with Garrett Shrader recording a then-season-low 124 passing yards.

UNC jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before pouring on 17 more points in the second quarter. Trailing by four scores, Syracuse never got close. Its lone touchdown came via LeQuint Allen Jr. in the third quarter. Outside of that, its offense was muted.

The Tar Heels Report

North Carolina’s offseason was eventful to say the least. The program made waves by hiring former Patriots head coach Belichick. With eight Super Bowl wins, Belichick is arguably the greatest football coach of all time. The 73-year-old’s arrival brought unprecedented media attention to Chapel Hill. With his NFL pedigree,curiosity surrounded whether Belichick could be successful with the Tar Heels.

The answer has been clear so far: UNC is a below-average team. It’s one of eight Power Four teams without a win over a P4 opponent this season. Its lone wins are over Charlotte and Richmond. Rumors have swirled about Belichick’s future, but for now, he’s here to stay.

UNC is helmed by quarterback Gio Lopez. The South Alabama transfer and Rickie Collins are two of the only quarterbacks in the ACC with more interceptions than touchdowns. Lopez has four touchdowns and five interceptions, while Collins has six touchdowns and eight interceptions. Lopez is also dead last among starters in the conference in passing yards (805), even below Collins (957). The signal caller did throw for 173 yards in the first half against UVA, his most successful output across two quarters all year.

Lopez’s inability to throw has led North Carolina to convert just 32.5% of its third downs, which is the country’s 10th-worst mark. The Tar Heels’ rushing attack is meager as well, averaging 110.9 rushing yards per game, which ranks towards the bottom of the ACC. Demon June is UNC’s go-to back, with 315 yards this year.

The Tar Heels’ defense is more effective than their offense. They let up 23.8 points and 346 yards per game. Per PFF, UNC is coming off its best defensive performance during conference play, receiving a 73.8 grade. Linebackers Khmori House and Andrew Simpson provide stability with 41 and 37 tackles, respectively, this season. In the secondary, the Tar Heels have five interceptions, but no one has more than one.

How Syracuse beats North Carolina

Syracuse’s 157 rushing yards against Georgia Tech were its most against a Power Four opponent this season. Yasin Willis has all the qualities to be an elite running back, and SU needs to use him more. Designed runs for Collins should also be more frequent. He finished with a season-high 14 carries last week, and although many of those were scrambles, his mobility needs to be utilized. If SU runs the ball, it gives Collins — who’s thrown eight interceptions — fewer chances for mistakes.

For the Orange to run the ball, they need to get out to a good start. Their 3-0 lead over GT was the first advantage they’ve had since Collins took over on Sept. 20. Relying on Collins to come from behind simply hasn’t worked. After Saturday’s loss, Syracuse players talked about keeping momentum when they have it. A strong first quarter could go a long way in accomplishing that.

Stat to know: Five

North Carolina’s five red zone turnovers are tied with Boston College for the most in the FBS. Those giveaways have cost it multiple games. UNC trailed Cal by three with four minutes remaining on Oct. 17 when Lopez hit Nathan Leacock. The receiver had the ball punched out right before crossing the goal line, ending the Tar Heels’ hopes of a win. On Saturday, Kobe Paysour fumbled out of the end zone as he reached for a touchdown.

Syracuse is a middle-of-the-pack ACC team, forcing 10 turnovers this season (five interceptions, five forced fumbles). If the Tar Heels remain careless with the football, it could prove costly against the Orange.

Player to watch: Melkart Abou Jaoude, defensive end, No. 9

Melkart Abou Jaoude was having a season to forget before last weekend. He only recorded two sacks in UNC’s first four games, both of which came against Richmond, an FCS opponent.

Last week, though, Abou Jaoude exploded for three sacks and four tackles, leading a fierce defensive effort. The defensive end had half of the Tar Heels’ season-high six sacks, who entered last weekend with eight. Abou Jaoude transferred from Delaware in the offseason, where he recorded 8.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in two seasons. With the Tar Heels, he’s received a 76.9 grade from Pro Football Focus and a 76.6 pass rush grade.

Published on October 29, 2025 at 7:47 pm
Contact Zak: zakwolf784254@gmail.com | @ZakWolf22