Ranked upset win helps UNC gain votes in latest football Coaches' Poll
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Winning heals all. For the North Carolina Tar Heels' football program, winning isn't something fans are accustomed to over the past two seasons.
UNC won its third game of the 2026 season on Saturday, staging a fourth-quarter comeback to down Pitt, 21-17, for the first ranked win of Bill Belichick's collegiate head coaching career. Billy Edwards connected with Shamar Easter for the eventual game-winning score, while North Carolina's (3-2, 1-1 ACC) defense locked down Pitt (5-1, 2-1 ACC) late in the fourth quarter.
As a result of their second upset victory this fall, the Tar Heels are receiving votes in USA TODAY Sports' latest Coaches' Poll. UNC has one vote this week, the first since upsetting TCU in Week Zero.
North Carolina is now one victory from equaling its 2025 total, with its next opponent a formidable test despite losing last weekend. The Tar Heels make a short trip up 15-105, facing Duke on Saturday in another installation of the Victory Bell battle.
| Rank | Team | Record | PTS | 1st | Prev | Chg | Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Bulldogs | 6-0 | 1832 | 60 | 2 | 1 | 1/3 |
| 2 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 6-0 | 1713 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2/5 |
| 3 | Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 5-0 | 1688 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3/7 |
| 4 | Indiana Hoosiers | 6-0 | 1633 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 4/6 |
| 5 | Ohio State Buckeyes | 5-1 | 1565 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1/7 |
| 6 | Texas Longhorns | 4-1 | 1369 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1/6 |
| 7 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 5-1 | 1358 | 0 | 7 | – | 7/12 |
| 8 | BYU Cougars | 5-0 | 1355 | 0 | 8 | – | 8/15 |
| 9 | Texas Tech Red Raiders | 5-0 | 1240 | 0 | 9 | – | 9/13 |
| 10 | Ole Miss Rebels | 4-1 | 1180 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 6/12 |
| 11 | Utah Utes | 5-0 | 1109 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 11/21 |
| 12 | UCLA Bruins | 5-0 | 912 | 0 | 22 | 10 | 12/NR |
| 13 | Missouri Tigers | 5-1 | 863 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 13/25 |
| 14 | Tennessee Volunteers | 5-1 | 837 | 0 | 14 | – | 13/18 |
| 15 | USC Trojans | 6-1 | 758 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 11/18 |
| 16 | Iowa Hawkeyes | 5-1 | 729 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 14/22 |
| 17 | Kentucky Wildcats | 5-1 | 667 | 0 | 25 | 8 | 17/NR |
| 18 | Houston Cougars | 5-1 | 520 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 18/NR |
| 19 | Mississippi State Bulldogs | 4-1 | 463 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 16/NR |
| 20 | Oklahoma State Cowboys | 4-1 | 403 | 0 | NR | 6 | 20/NR |
| 21 | LSU Tigers | 4-2 | 361 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 7/21 |
| 22 | SMU Mustangs | 4-1 | 330 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 16/25 |
| 23 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 5-1 | 229 | 0 | NR | 6 | 23/NR |
| 24 | Boise State Broncos | 5-1 | 205 | 0 | NR | 3 | 24/NR |
| 25 | Oregon Ducks | 3-2 | 200 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 2/25 |
Schools Dropped Out
No. 15 Florida; No. 23 Duke; No. 24 Pittsburgh;
Others Receiving Votes
Northwestern 107; Arizona 92; Nebraska 74; Oklahoma 50; Wisconsin 39; Duke 35; James Madison 33; Florida 32; Pittsburgh 25; New Mexico 16; UTSA 10; Baylor 9; Memphis 6; Oregon State 2; North Carolina 1
UNC failed to get its running game going against Pitt, totaling 20 yards on 25 carries, forcing its offense to rely heavily on Edwards. Despite a pair of interceptions, his second straight game with multiple giveaways, Edwards delivered in the clutch late.
After facing Duke this coming weekend, North Carolina returns home to Kenan Stadium for consecutive battles vs. Syracuse (October 24) and Miami (FL) (Oct. 31). Can the Tar Heels string together several wins, continue earning poll votes and finally win a bowl game in December?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Ranked upset win helps UNC gain votes in latest football Coaches' Poll
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