The North Carolina Tar Heels narrowly missed securing their first ACC victory of the season, falling just short in a 17-16 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers at Chapel Hill on Saturday.

Despite a tough start to the season, North Carolina has shown noticeable improvement, but continues to suffer heartbreaking losses in conference play. After conceding a touchdown on Virginia’s first possession in overtime, the Heels replied with a touchdown pass to Davion Gause.

Bill Belichick, opting for a try for two points instead of settling for an extra point, saw his team come close. They attempted a drop back pass in their 2-point conversion, but Gio Lopez was forced to check down to Benjamin Hall, who came up mere inches short of the end zone, leading to a defeat.

It’s a cruel twist that Hall’s attempt to heed Belichick’s advice—to avoid extending the ball too early—backfired, denying the Tar Heels a victory they desperately sought.

Defensively, North Carolina performed admirably; however, costly turnovers prevented them from capitalizing on their offensive advantages. Their performance outgained Virginia in total yards, yet mistakes in the red zone proved detrimental, including another costly fumble.

Both UNC and its coach Belichick face mounting questions as they prepare for the remaining games this season, hoping to regain momentum and achieve that elusive win before the year ends.