The North Carolina Tar Heels had a golden opportunity on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Duke to Kenan Stadium for one final, 2025 football game in Chapel Hill.
UNC needed a big win to stay bowl eligible, while the Blue Devils needed a win to clinch eligibility. Duke is undoubtedly the better team this year, but anything can happen in rivalry games.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNorth Carolina started hot with a first-drive touchdown and made things with its second-half comeback attempt, but lost 32-25 to knock itself out of bowl eligibility.
The story of Saturday's game was stupid penalties, from Marcus Allen's roughing the kicker mishap to Javarius Green's punch after a Tar Heels first down. A normally-disciplined UNC (4-7, 2-5 ACC) team, which entered Saturday with 56 penalties (third-fewest in the ACC), committed 12 penalties for 103 yards. A couple mishaps led to Blue Devil (6-5, 5-2 ACC) scores, while a couple others brought North Carolina further away from its own end zone.
Gio Lopez kept the Tar Heels in Saturday's game, scoring a first-drive rushing touchdown and connecting with Jordan Shipp midway through the third quarter, both on a touchdown pass and 2-point conversion. Davion Gause joined the scoring party late, with his 12-yard, fourth-quarter run and Rece Verhoff's extra point giving UNC a 25-24 lead.
North Carolina's defense struggled again, allowing 17 points and a touchdown on the Blue Devils' final drive, but held ACC passing leader Darian Mensah under 200 yards.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Tar Heels are no longer in postseason contention, so they now focus their shift towards beating NC State. Read our five takeaways from tonight's game.
Penalties cost UNC a win
Nov 22, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils tight end Jeremiah Hasley (85) runs downfield after a catch during the first half against the North Carolina Tar at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn ImagesOn arguably a turning point in today's game, UNC defensive back Marcus Allen roughed Duke kicker Todd Pelino on a second-quarter field goal attempt. The next play, Mensah found tight end Jeremiah Hasley for a Blue Devils touchdown.
That sequence was part of a long day for North Carolina, which committed 12 penalties for 103 yards. The Tar Heels had more penalty yards than rushing yards (101), which is never a good sign.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUNC's discipline improved slight in the second half, but still wasn't perfect. You take the penalties away, North Carolina likely wins today's game.
Second-half defense was solid, but big plays throughout proved costly
Nov 22, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils kicker Todd Pelino (29) is pushed out of bounds on a fake field goal during the second half at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn ImagesUNC held Duke's normally-explosive offense to seven points through most of the second half. The Tar Heels got after Mensah, made smart plays and limited their mistakes.
Big plays led to all 17 first-half Blue Devils points. Duke needed a fourth-down conversion late in the fourth quarter and, in the picture above, ran a fake field goal down to North Carolina's one.
Big plays hurt the Tar Heels all year and, once again, cost them in Saturday's home finale.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuke outplayed UNC in later downs
Nov 22, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard (20) scores during the second half at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn ImagesConverting fourth downs wins you ballgames. Duke converted five of its six tries, while UNC failed on its lone conversion attempt on one final drive.
The Tar Heels fared better on third downs, converting 8-of-13 chances to Duke's 6-of-15 mark, but allowing five fourth-down conversions played a big role.
Jordan Shipp will be an offensive star in 2026
Nov 22, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Jordan Shipp (1) celebrates after a touchdown during the second half at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn ImagesOffense is a consistent struggle for UNC, but Shipp quickly rose to become a reliable offensive star. Shipp caught a game-high eight passes for 83 yards against Duke, scoring a third-quarter touchdown that got North Carolina within a point.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf the Tar Heels don't have Shipp this season, their offense looks much worse. With Shipp expected to return in 2026, his second season under Bill Belichick, Shipp will continue blossoming into a star.
UNC played better vs. Duke than at Wake Forest
Nov 22, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Davion Gause (37) rushes the ball against Duke during the second half at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn ImagesFor a team that played largely bad football at Wake Forest, UNC responded with a near-upset of its biggest rival on Saturday.
Take away the penalties, North Carolina beats Duke. Gause anchored the Tar Heels' rushing attack, Lopez continued looking comfortable running the offense and defense – at times – played well.
UNC doesn't have anything else to play for now besides beating NC State, which would be a first since 2020.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football: Five takeaways from Week 13 loss to Duke
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