Bill Belichick was cracking jokes after his first ranked win

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Bill Belichick was cracking jokes after his first ranked win

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Oct 10, 2026 5:27 PM ET

Bill Belichick was in a chipper mood after scoring his first ranked win as head coach at North Carolina.

The Tar Heels beat Pitt 21-17 at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, marking Belichick’s first win over a ranked opponent during his tenure with the school. After the game, he was, by his standards, quite relaxed, and even had some jokes.

Interviewer Quint Kessenich noted that the Tar Heels overcame a slog of a third quarter, which included three combined interceptions and three total punts between the two teams. Belichick, however, cracked a grin and said he found the first quarter, in which the Tar Heels gave up a touchdown without scoring, to be far worse.

"I thought the first quarter was worse." Coach Bill Belichick had jokes after picking up his first ranked win with UNC https://t.co/8fDTZURfsA
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 10, 2026

Belichick is experiencing quite the turnaround this season. Saturday’s win improved them to 3-2, and they would very easily be 4-1 if not for a collapse against Clemson earlier in the season.

The coach has been looking and acting more like himself this season. Expectations were low for Belichick at the start of the campaign, but the Tar Heels appear to be exceeding them.

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