Syracuse Upsets North Carolina 31-30 in Overtime to Snap ACC Losing Streak

Syracuse defeated North Carolina 31-30 in an overtime game on a Saturday night, snapping an 11-game Atlantic Coast Conference losing streak when quarterback Steve Angeli connected with Calvin Russell III on a four-yard touchdown pass and a subsequent two-point conversion.

How Syracuse Climbed Back From a Ten-Point Deficit

North Carolina established control early in the contest, jumping to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter behind a five-yard touchdown pass from Billy Edwards Jr. to Jordan Shipp and a 27-yard field goal by Rece Verhoff. The Tar Heels extended their advantage to 20-10 in the third quarter when Demon June broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run.

The Orange steadily chipped away at the deficit. Ahmad Miller pounded up the middle for a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter, finishing the game with 125 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. Trailing 20-10, Syracuse ignited its offense in the fourth quarter when Angeli launched a deep pass to Umari Hatcher, who raced the remaining distance for a 76-yard score.

Verhoff added his third field goal of the night to push North Carolina ahead 23-17. However, the Tar Heels paid a steep price for failing to punch the ball into the end zone after securing a first-and-goal at the six-yard line. Syracuse capitalized by marching 75 yards in 11 plays, culminating in a three-yard touchdown run by Tylik Hill with 1:54 remaining in regulation. Although Shay Barker missed the ensuing extra point to leave the score tied at 23-23, North Carolina subsequently turned the ball over on downs, sending the game into overtime.

Overtime Conversion Settles the ACC Game

In the extra session, North Carolina struck first when Billy Edwards Jr. connected with Demon June on a three-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful extra point from Verhoff to make it 30-23. Facing fourth and goal, Syracuse answered immediately as Angeli found Calvin Russell III for a four-yard touchdown.

Rather than kicking the extra point to force a second overtime, Syracuse elected to go for the win. Angeli rolled out to the right and targeted Russell, who hauled in the reception and tapped the end zone pylon with his foot before going out of bounds. Officials upheld the decisive two-point conversion following a replay review, sealing the 31-30 final score.

Statistical breakdowns showed that Syracuse outgained North Carolina 455 to 372 in total yards, holding a 199-to-101 advantage in the rushing game. The Orange ran 83 offensive plays compared to 69 for the Tar Heels, keeping the North Carolina defense on the field for 49 rushing attempts. Neither team committed a turnover during the contest.

Standout Performances Shape the Box Score

Billy Edwards Jr. engineered the North Carolina offense by completing 27 of 44 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception. Jordan Shipp paced the Tar Heels’ receiving corps with eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, while Jelani Thurman contributed seven receptions for 77 yards. Demon June added 53 rushing yards on nine carries alongside his overtime touchdown reception. On defense, Derek McDonald led North Carolina with 16 tackles, including one tackle for loss.

For Syracuse, Steve Angeli completed 20 of 34 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Ahmad Miller anchored the ground attack with his 125-yard rushing performance, while Umari Hatcher maintained his strong season trajectory with the 76-yard touchdown catch.

Upcoming Matchups on October 31

North Carolina will attempt to rebound when the team hosts the top-ranked team in the nation, Miami, on October 31, 2026. The undefeated Hurricanes advanced their record with a 52-23 victory over Pitt.

Syracuse returns home to face No. 23 SMU at noon on October 31, 2026, looking to build momentum following its first conference victory.