It wouldn’t be a UNC football game without a little late-game drama. The Tar Heels, up by 11 late in the fourth quarter against Stanford Saturday night, watched that lead quickly shrink to five points with less than a minute to go.
Just like it had all night, North Carolina’s defense came through with a pair of big plays, this time on Stanford’s final drive to preserve a 20-15 win.
WIth 37 seconds left, Tar Heels (4-5, 2-3 ACC) linebacker Khmori House broke up a pass over the middle intended for CJ Williams, Stanford’s (3-7, 2-5 ACC) top receiver. After a false start, Melkart Abou-Jaoude bursted through the trenches to sack Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown for a 10-yard loss.
Stanford tried a trick play with time expiring, but UNC forced Micah Ford out of bounds. North Carolina players, coaches and fans in attendance alike could all collectively breathe a sigh of relief.
The Tar Heels’ defense set the tone throughout Saturday night, highlighted by a 9-sack performance. Abou-Jaoude and Tyler Thompson notched three sacks apiece, prompting Bill Belichick to say – postgame – that duo is tough to block in practice.
North Carolina’s offense, which only generated 47 first-half yards, finished with 253 yards and 17 second-half points. Davion Gause started the scoring party with a 20-yard reception, when Gio Lopez found him on a beautiful wheel route midway through the third quarter. Rece Verhoff added a 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, followed by Jordan Shipp’s 55-yard reception three minutes into the frame.
As you can imagine, social media was pretty happy about UNC’s second-straight win. Take a look at several reactions from across the college football world.
Could be 6-3…but a win’s a win!
Tar Heels football team is 2 inches away from being 6-3….
Frustrating but promising
Win 2 of the next 3 against in state rivals and you’re bowl bound pic.twitter.com/poZbA7Hm2B
— NonStopCarolina🐏 (@NonStopCarolina) November 9, 2025
That Bell Tower Blue hits different
Happy to see two wins this weekend . . . one prettier than the other but we’ll take it! Go Heels!! pic.twitter.com/25vXPRymXT
— Countesses of UNC (@CountessesofUNC) November 9, 2025
Light the…duck?!
Got a little tight at the end of the game, BUT:
Carolina-20
Stanford-15#LightTheDuckpic.twitter.com/8tzlqoegMg— Carolina Insider Pod (@carolina_pod) November 9, 2025
Defense is making an IMPACT.
Just imagine where #UNC would be without its defense this season…
Absolute game-changer for the Tar Heels.
— Jeremiah Artacho (@JeremiahArtacho) November 9, 2025
Winning frames
Hard Fought Win. 💪😤 pic.twitter.com/rNQ7sAWaE0
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) November 9, 2025
Just how good is UNC’s defense playing?
UNC’s defense has given up just 3 touchdowns in the last 12 quarters of regulation football.
— Great Day Tar Heel (@GreatDayTarHeel) November 9, 2025
Is a bowl game a possibility for UNC?
Had to sweat it out at the end, but #UNC’s defense is playing good enough football to beat a lot of teams right now.
Make that two wins on the spin, state championship series up next. Can the Heels go bowling? 👀
— Jacob Turner (@JacobTurnerNC) November 9, 2025
Jordan Shipp praising Melkart Abou-Jaoude and Tyler Thompson
“Number 40 on the field, number 1 in my heart — number 9 on the field, number 1 in my heart.”
Jordan Shipp showing love to UNC’s edge rushers after a nine-sack night in the Tar Heels’ win.
Full coverage later on tonight from Inside Carolina. pic.twitter.com/ssOxJKUtoT
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) November 9, 2025
UNC fight song…into the locker room!
There’s a happy bunch of Tar Heels!#UNC#GoHeelspic.twitter.com/o3Ct8quZ9s
— Tar Heels Wire (@tarheelswire) November 9, 2025
Postgame thoughts
UNC-Stanford Quick Thoughts
-Defensive front just continues to dominate
-Melkart Abou-Jaoude is one of the best pass rushers in the entire country
-Tyler Thompson is developing nicely
-Receivers continue to step up
-Lack of a running game and soft defense in that 4th quarter…— Anthony Pagnotta (Flounder) (@HTBAnthony) November 9, 2025
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football: Social media reactions to Tar Heels win over Stanford
