Duke Stuns UNC 32-25 in Comeback Win to Keep Victory Bell, Secures Fourth Straight Bowl Bid
With 2:26 left and down by one point, Duke didn’t panic. They didn’t throw it all over the field. Instead, they ran — and ran — and ran some more, grinding out an 11-play, 68-yard drive that ended with Anderson Castle plunging into the end zone for the third time that day. The crowd at Kenan Stadium fell silent. The Duke Blue Devils had done it again. On Senior DayChapel Hill, North Carolina, Duke beat North Carolina Tar Heels 32-25, reclaiming the Victory Bell and locking up bowl eligibility for the fourth straight year — a first in program history since 2012-2015.
A Game That Refused to End
For most of the afternoon, it looked like UNC was in control. After trailing 17-10 at halftime, the Tar Heels clawed back with a 12-yard touchdown run by Davion Gause and a slick 20-yard pass from Gio Lopez to Jordan Shipp, who caught eight passes for 83 yards. By the 13:13 mark of the fourth quarter, UNC had surged ahead 25-24. The crowd roared. The bell, long a symbol of dominance in this rivalry, seemed ready to swing back to Chapel Hill.
Then came the twist.
Duke’s offense, which had been methodical all day, turned surgical. Todd Pelino, a backup running back who hadn’t touched the ball since the first half, took a direct snap on a fake field goal and ripped off a 26-yard scamper to the UNC 35. It wasn’t pretty — but it was perfect. Two plays later, Castle punched in his third 1-yard TD. The extra point made it 32-25. No timeouts left for UNC. No magic left in their legs.
Defense Stepped Up When It Mattered
It wasn’t just the offense. The Duke Blue Devils defense, often criticized this season, delivered when the stakes were highest. With UNC driving in the final minutes, Josiah Green and Aaron Hall — two linemen who’d been quiet all afternoon — sacked Lopez on back-to-back plays. The second sack forced a punt with 6:42 left, killing UNC’s momentum and giving Duke’s offense the ball back with a chance to seal it.
That sequence was a microcosm of the game: UNC’s offense sputtered under pressure. They committed 12 penalties for 103 yards — three of them unsportsmanlike conduct in the final quarter alone. Duke? Three penalties, 27 yards. Clean. Controlled. Cold-blooded.
The Ground Game That Won It
Duke’s rushing attack was the engine. Nate Sheppard carried 22 times for 90 yards, grinding out tough yards between the tackles. Castle added 49 more on 13 carries — and three touchdowns. Together, they accounted for 139 of Duke’s 177 rushing yards. Meanwhile, UNC’s defense, ranked among the ACC’s best against the run, looked gassed by the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Darian Mensah didn’t light up the stat sheet — 20 of 33 for 175 yards — but he made the right throws and scrambled for 27 crucial yards. More importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over. In a game where field position was everything, that mattered.
A Rivalry Reversed
This win marks only the third time since 1990 that Duke has beaten UNC in back-to-back seasons. The last time? 2012-2013 — the same stretch when Duke last made four straight bowl games. The Duke Blue Devils are no longer the underdogs in this rivalry. They’re the team with the momentum, the discipline, and the nerve.
Head coach Manny Diaz, known for his defensive acumen, had a simple explanation: "It’s two years in a row that when it came down to winning time at the end of the game in this fixture, that the Duke guys were the ones making the plays in clutch time."
UNC, meanwhile, fell to 5-6. Their bowl hopes are now on life support. They’ll need a win over NC State next week just to stay alive. But the damage here was deeper than record books. It was psychological. Duke didn’t just win — they broke their spirit.
What’s Next?
Duke’s regular season ends next Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, when they host Wake Forest in Durham. A win there would give them a 7-5 record and likely a mid-tier bowl bid — perhaps the Duke’s first New Year’s Six appearance since 2013.
The Victory Bell? It’s staying in Durham. Again. And for the first time in over a decade, Duke fans don’t just hope for bowl games — they expect them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Duke convert so many fourth downs?
Duke converted 5 of 6 fourth-down attempts, the most in a single game since 2018. Coach Manny Diaz emphasized aggressive play-calling in critical moments, trusting his offensive line and running backs to execute short-yardage plays. The team’s success on fourth down was tied to disciplined blocking and Castle’s ability to finish near the goal line — he scored all three touchdowns on 1-yard plunges.
Why did UNC’s penalties hurt them so much?
Twelve penalties for 103 yards, including three unsportsmanlike conduct flags in the fourth quarter, killed UNC’s rhythm and extended Duke’s drives. One penalty wiped out a potential 30-yard touchdown run by Gause. Another gave Duke a first down on a crucial fourth-and-8. Those weren’t just yardage losses — they were momentum killers in a game decided by inches.
Is this Duke’s best season since 2013?
It’s shaping up to be. With six wins and bowl eligibility locked in, this is Duke’s most successful season since their 2013 ACC Championship run. The difference? This team has grit. They’re not relying on stars — Castle, Sheppard, and Pelino aren’t household names — but they execute under pressure. The defense, once a liability, is now the team’s backbone.
What’s the historical significance of the Victory Bell?
The Victory Bell, first contested in 1948, is one of college football’s oldest rivalry trophies. It’s a 250-pound bell from a decommissioned steam locomotive, originally used by the Southern Railway. Duke leads the all-time series 49-35-3, but UNC had won five of the last seven meetings before this year. Keeping it in Durham for a second straight year signals a major shift in the rivalry’s balance.
How does this affect Duke’s bowl prospects?
With a 6-5 record, Duke is guaranteed a bowl berth — likely the Duke’s first since 2021. A win over Wake Forest next week would make them 7-5, improving their chances for a higher-profile game like the Duke’s Mayo Bowl or the Gasparilla Bowl. Their consistent performance and improved defense make them an attractive opponent for bowls looking for competitive, disciplined teams.
What’s next for UNC’s football program?
UNC’s season hangs by a thread. They need to beat NC State next week to stay bowl-eligible, but their offense has been inconsistent, and their discipline is crumbling. Three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in one quarter is unacceptable at any level. Head coach Mack Brown faces mounting pressure — this loss, combined with a 5-6 record, may force changes in the offseason, including potential staff turnover.