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Durham, Durham County

Durham: UNC beats Duke 24-20 at Wallace Wade Stadium

North Carolina won 24-20 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham on Saturday. Jaylen McGill scored on a 24-yard run with 1:53 left. UNC is 4-2 (2-1 ACC). Duke is 4-2 (1-2).

ConfirmedThe main facts are confirmed by official or first-hand sources.

By Triangle Local Newsroom · Published

The downtown Durham skyline under an overcast sky

File photo: Discover Durham (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • North Carolina beat Duke 24-20 on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham.Confirmed by UNC Athletics game recap, box score and schedule; Duke Athletics game recap
  • Jaylen McGill scored on a 24-yard run with 1:53 left. The box score lists that score as an 8-play, 78-yard drive.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and box score; Duke Athletics recap
  • Kenton Dopson III intercepted Duke quarterback Walker Eget at the UNC 15-yard line with 14 seconds left.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and box score; Duke Athletics recap
  • UNC led 17-0, then went scoreless for more than 41 minutes. Duke led 20-17 late after a 7-yard touchdown pass from Eget to Nate Sheppard with 4:39 left.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and box score; Duke Athletics recap
  • UNC is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the ACC. Duke is 4-2 and 1-2.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap, box score and schedule; Duke Athletics recap
  • UNC recaptured the Victory Bell. The school's recap says it is Carolina's first win in Durham since 2022.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap
  • UNC next hosts Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network.Confirmed by UNC Athletics recap and schedule

What happened

North Carolina beat Duke 24-20 on Saturday at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham.

The Tar Heels are 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the ACC. Duke is 4-2 and 1-2. The official UNC recap, box score and schedule, and Duke's recap, all list the same final.

How it finished

UNC led 17-0. The school's recap says Carolina scored that lead in the first 17 minutes, then went scoreless for more than 41 minutes.

Duke went ahead 20-17 on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Walker Eget to Nate Sheppard with 4:39 left. The box score and both recaps list that score.

Jaylen McGill ran 24 yards for a touchdown with 1:53 remaining, putting UNC back in front 24-20. The box score lists that as an 8-play, 78-yard drive.

Kenton Dopson III then intercepted Eget at the UNC 15-yard line with 14 seconds left. UNC's recap and the box score both list that play. Duke's recap says the interception sealed the win.

UNC recaptured the Victory Bell. The school's recap says it is Carolina's first win in Durham since 2022.

What's next

UNC hosts Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network, according to the team's recap and schedule.

Why it matters

This is the Triangle's ACC rivalry game. UNC recaptured the Victory Bell in Durham, its first win at Duke since 2022.

Sources

  1. McGill TD, Dopson Interception Clinch Thrilling, 24-20 Win At Duke (game recap)

    Official sourcePublished by UNC Athletics · Checked Oct 17, 2026, 8:20 PM

  2. Football vs Duke on 10/17/2026, box score

    Official sourcePublished by UNC Athletics · Checked Oct 17, 2026, 8:20 PM

  3. 2026 Football Schedule (at Duke W, 24-20; vs. Syracuse, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.; 4-2, 2-1 ACC)

    Official sourcePublished by UNC Athletics · Checked Oct 17, 2026, 8:20 PM

  4. Duke's Comeback Effort Falls Short in 24-20 Loss to North Carolina (game recap)

    Official sourcePublished by Duke Athletics · Checked Oct 17, 2026, 8:20 PM

  5. McGill's late TD lifts North Carolina past Duke 24-20

    Published by The Associated Press · Checked Oct 17, 2026, 8:20 PM

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