The North Carolina Tar Heels suffered a massive letdown defeat in overtime to the Syracuse Orange, 31-30, for their third loss of the season.

After two wins in a row against a ranked Pittsburgh team and an in-state victory over rival Duke, North Carolina and head coach Bill Belichick fall short in a game with plenty of chances to end in the fourth quarter. Here are some of the key takeaways from Saturday night's incredibly disappointing loss.

Fourth Down Defense Was an Issue Early

Oct 24, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game against Syracuse Orange at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Tar Heels had a rough night against the Orange on fourth down. Credit should go to their offense for putting themselves in that position to potentially convert on fourth down.…