By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina’s bowl destination isn’t nearly as clear as before the conference championship games.
Days after seven of 11 media projections ticketed the Tar Heels for the Gator Bowl, the most common prediction (four of 11) has them playing in Charlotte on Dec. 27 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
All 11 outlets have different predictions than they had early last week. Bowl matchups will be announced later on Sunday.
USA Today’s Erick Smith and College Football News predict that UNC will face James Madison (11–1) in the 5:30 p.m. (ESPN) Charlotte game, while ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, as well as Stewart Mandel and Scott Dochterman of The Athletic, predict the opponent will be Kentucky (7–5).
No other Carolina team plays on the day of the Charlotte bowl.
UNC is 1–4 in the Charlotte bowl that has had several corporate names, last playing in the game when it lost 38–21 to South Carolina in 2021. It has also played in that game in 2013 (39–17 win over Cincinnati), 2009 (19–17 loss to Pittsburgh), 2008 (31–30 loss to West Virginia) and 2004 (37–24 loss to Boston College).
Only two still project UNC (8–4) for the Gator Bowl, with two predictions for the Sun Bowl, two for the Pinstripe Bowl and one for the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and 247 Sports’ Brad Crawford predict that UNC will face Tennessee (8–4) at noon on Friday, Dec. 29, in the Gator Bowl (ESPN).
UNC’s men’s basketball team plays a home game against Charleston Southern at 8 p.m. on Dec. 29.
The last time UNC played in the Gator Bowl, Virginia Tech wasn’t yet in the ACC, and the Tar Heels coasted to a 42–3 victory over the Hokies after the 1997 season. Coach Mack Brown had taken the Texas job after the regular season, and Carl Torbush coached the Tar Heels in that game.
The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy and CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm project the Tar Heels to meet Rutgers (6–6) in the Pinstripe Bowl at 2:15 on Thursday, Dec. 28 (ESPN) at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. UNC has never played in that game.
There are no other Carolina games in other sports that day.
Athlon’s Steve Lassan and Fox Sports’ Bryan Fischer predict UNC will face Oregon State (8–4) in the Sun Bowl at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 (CBS). That men’s basketball game with Charleston Southern is that night.
UNC lost to Stanford 25–23 in its last Sun Bowl appearance in 2016. The Tar Heels also played in that game in 1994 (35–31 loss to Texas), 1982 (26–10 win over Texas), 1974 (26–24 loss to Mississippi State) and 1972 (32–28 win over Texas Tech).
Bill Bender of The Sporting News projects UNC for the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla., at 5:45 Thursday, Dec. 28, (ESPN) against Oklahoma State (9–4). No other UNC team plays that day.
UNC has played in that bowl under different corporate names, losing 49–38 to Baylor in 2015. The Tar Heels beat Arkansas 20–10 in 1995 when the game was played in Miami Gardens, Fla., with Brown coaching UNC and Danny Ford coaching the Razorbacks.
Bowl projections for Carolina
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, 5:30 Wednesday, Dec. 27, vs. Kentucky (7–5)
USA Today’s Erick Smith: Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. James Madison (11–1)
College Football News: Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. Kentucky
The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel and Schott Dochterman: Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. Kentucky
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., noon Friday, Dec. 29, vs. Tennessee (8–4), ESPN
247 Sports’ Brad Crawford: Gator vs. Tennessee
Action Network’s Brett McMurphy: Pinstripe Bowl in Bronx, N.Y., 2:15, Thursday, Dec. 28, vs. Rutgers (6–6), ESPN
CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm: Pinstripe vs. Rutgers
Athlon’s Steve Lassan: Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, vs. vs. Oregon State (8–4), CBS
Fox Sports’ Bryan Fischer: Sun vs. Oregon State
The Sporting News’ Bill Bender: Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla., 5:45 Thursday, Dec. 28, vs. Oklahoma State (9–4), ESPN
UNC schedule
| Month/ date | Opponent/event | 2023 record | UNC record in series |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | |||
| 20 | Spring game, 3 p.m. | — | — |
| August | |||
| 29 (Thurs.) | at Minnesota | 6–7 | 1–0 |
| September | |||
| 7 | Charlotte | 3–9 | 0–0 |
| 14 | N.C. Central | 9–3 | 0–0 |
| 21 | James Madison | 11–2 | 3–0 |
| 28 | at Duke | 8–5 | 65–40–4 |
| October | |||
| 5 | Pittsburgh | 3–9 | 12–5 |
| 12 | Georgia Tech | 7–6 | 22–33–3 |
| 26 | at Virginia | 3–9 | 66–58–4 |
| November | |||
| 2 | at Florida State | 13–1 | 3–17–1 |
| 16 | Wake Forest | 4–8 | 72–36–2 |
| 23 | at Boston College | 7–6 | 6–2 |
| 30 | N.C. State | 9–4 | 68–39–6 |
Photo via @UNCFootball
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