North Carolina Upsets Duke in Tobacco Road Rivalry

Tar Heels hand Blue Devils their second loss of the season in close game

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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In a close and hard-fought game, the unranked North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the 4th-ranked Duke Blue Devils 71-68 in their Tobacco Road rivalry matchup. Despite Duke's defensive prowess, UNC was able to get to the free throw line 14 times, converting 11 of those attempts, which proved to be the difference in the game. Senior guard Seth Trimble hit the game-winning 3-pointer for UNC with just 0.4 seconds remaining.

Why it matters

This upset victory for North Carolina is a significant win for the Tar Heels, who have struggled with consistency this season. While Duke is still a top team in the country, this loss raises questions about their ability to close out close games against quality opponents. The rivalry between these two storied programs always generates excitement, and this close contest lived up to the hype.

The details

In three separate incidents since July, police said 45-year-old San Francisco resident Walker Reed Quinn has been damaging Waymo autonomous vehicles by removing and swinging his belt, placing a cone on the dome and sensors of the car, damaging the tires and driver's side mirror, and stomping on the windshield.

  • On July 4, Quinn allegedly dove onto the hood of a Waymo vehicle and covered sensors.
  • On July 29, Quinn allegedly damaged a Waymo's tires and driver's side mirror.
  • On August 11, Quinn allegedly stomped on a windshield while someone was inside.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Walker Reed Quinn

A 45-year-old San Francisco resident who has a history of vandalism and was out on bail for prior cases related to Waymo vehicles.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.