Social media reacts to UNC football's Victory Bell loss against Duke

It's not how you start a game, but how you finish it. Such certainly proved the case for UNC on Saturday afternoon, which welcomed Duke to Kenan Stadium for some ACC football action.

Trailing the Blue Devils by 10 points at halftime, North Carolina scored 15 second-half points to take a late, 1-point lead. Big plays, a theme for the Tar Heels throughout their 2025 season, cost them late in a 32-25 loss.

UNC (4-7, 2-5 ACC) forced a Darian Mensah incompletion late in the fourth quarter, bringing Duke's (6-5, 5-2 ACC) field goal team onto the Kenan Stadium grass for a go-ahead try. Instead, on fourth-and-three from North Carolina's 27, the Blue Devils gained 26 yards on a fake field goal.

Duke kicker Todd Pelino took a pitch from Kade Reynoldson, sprinted left around the Tar Heels' defensive line and down to their 1-yard line. The very next play, App State transfer Anderson Castle scored his third touchdown of the day, giving the Blue Devils a lead they never relinquished.

Gio Lopez kept UNC in Saturday's game, totaling 267 yards and two touchdowns, with his first coming on a 1-yard scramble in the first quarter. Lopez continued showcasing his chemistry with wide receiver Jordan Shipp, who caught a game-high eight passes for 83 yards and a score.

Despite their best efforts in a legendary comeback attempt, the Tar Heels lost – and will miss a bowl game for the first time since 2018. Take a look at some social media reactions after the loss.

Does UNC need another reset?

There's no sugarcoating it.

Caleb Wilson provided some fun moments pre-game

Is Bill Belichick a wasted hire?

Bill Belichick understands NC State is the bigger football rival

This fan had some harsh words for Billy B

2026 program turnaround needed big-time

Chapel Bill era worse than Mack Brown 2.0?

Have to respect the troll job here.

Limited growth offsets an easy schedule

UNC committed 12 penalties to Duke's three

This fan wants Billy B gone before the State game

Duke keeps the Victory Bell

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football: Social media reactions to Tar Heels loss against Duke