The North Carolina Tar Heels fell to the Syracuse Orange 31-30 on Saturday night.
Here are some of the good and not-so-good developments that emerged from this contest.
Oct 24, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Jordan Shipp (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against Syracuse Orange at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The star wide receiver was dominant in this one, recording eight receptions for 102 yards and one touchdown. Shipp's ability to create separation at all three levels of the field and evade defenders for yards after the catch was on full display.
When the passing and running games mesh, the Tar Heels are always positioned in manageable third-down scenarios. For the most part, North Carolina's offense remained ahead of the chains and on schedule. That contributed to the Tar Heels going 9-of-17 on third downs.
Whenever a team is without its starting running back, it can cause some uneasiness for the offense. Not many teams have multiple running backs capable of leading the backfield. Luckily, the Tar Heels do. Jaylen McGill and Demon June are different-style runners, but they form a potent one-two punch.
Oct 24, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Jaylen McGill (27) reacts after a play during the first quarter against Syracuse Orange at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The two running backs split the backfield work essentially 50-50, combining for 115 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries. They also combined for 25 yards and one touchdown on four receptions.
It's been a recurring theme for this defense to be gashed on the ground, and that was the case again on Saturday night. Syracuse ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns on 49 attempts. It was an underwhelming performance by the defensive line, which is struggling to impose its will in the trenches.
For the second consecutive week, North Carolina squandered a double-digit lead. Except this time, the Tar Heels couldn't escape with a win. Quite frankly, this was a game they should have won, considering Syracuse entered this matchup at 2-4.
Oct 24, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Syracuse Orange running back Ahmad Miller (22) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The offense struggled to sustain drives after the first quarter, while the defense couldn't get off the field on third downs late in the game. Now, the Tar Heels enter a matchup against the Miami Hurricanes at 4-3, instead of 5-2. North Carolina will likely lose and enter the final four games of the season at .500.
Edwards Jr. started the game completing his first 11 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown. From that point forward, Edwards Jr.'s struggles, which have been present all season, continued. The veteran quarterback missed simple reads, lost his composure in the pocket, and failed to string together multiple passes when the Tar Heels weren't running scripted plays.
In each of the Tar Heels' losses, including on Saturday night, Edwards Jr.'s shortcomings have been the catalyst. His inability to sustain drives allows opposing teams to stay within striking distance, as was the case against Syracuse.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/unc as Tar Heel Takes: What Stood Out in UNC's Loss to Syracuse .
