By R.L. Bynum

CHAPEL HILL — His exit from Carolina wasn’t Coach Mack Brown’s preference, and the Tar Heels’ second-half defense just added to his frustrations.

N.C. State scored on every drive after halftime on its way to a 35–30 victory, its fourth straight win over Carolina, on a cool evening at Kenan Stadium full of a range of emotions.

“I agree with the administration that we need to change leadership at the top,” said Brown, who confirmed he won’t coach the bowl game. “I just wanted it to happen after the season.”

Brown, who didn’t take questions from the media during the postgame press conference, also said he disagreed with how the situation was handled, wishing that there had been a joint press conference.

“All I wanted to do was wait until the end of the year, and they wanted me to retire on Monday before the State game,” Brown said. “I didn’t want to break their hearts on Monday, so I said, no, I wouldn’t do that. And then they want me to do it on Friday. Well, I sure wasn’t going to do it Friday before the game.”

Wolfpack players attempted to plant an N.C. State flag on the field after the game, leading to some fighting between the teams, which added to the Tar Heels’ miseries. J.J. Jones tossed the flag aside. It was a sad ending to a battle that included quite a bit of chirping throughout and a cheap shot on Kaimon Rucker that ended his game. Rucker said it was a cracked left fibula and that is not serious.

N.C. State and Carolina both finished 6–6, 3–5 in the ACC and headed for bowls, but the future of the Tar Heels’ program is uncertain.

Brown walked off the field one last time, with wife Sally on his side, both understandably looking unhappy.

“I’m disappointed with the game tonight, but I’m not mad,” said Brown, who said he’s been presented opportunities but doesn’t know what he’ll do next or where he will live. “I’m not angry. I think it’s time to go.

“I always said for God to tell me when it’s time to go,” Brown said. “Oh my gosh, this year I’ve got a bunch of answers, and tonight just piled on. So I said, ‘I’ve got to go, I’ve got to go. I hear you!’ “

Brown said that he’s ready to get out of the way and make way for the next coach.

Running back Omarion Hampton did what he could in possibly his last game for Carolina (should he opt out of the bowl game) with two huge touchdowns: a career-long 75-yard scoring run in the first half and a 47-yard score on a shovel pass with 1:51 left in the game.

But the UNC defense capped its failures playing without Rucker by allowing running back Hollywood Smothers to score his second touchdown, this one with 25 seconds left, to put the game away.

Hampton finished with 185 rushing and 78 reception yards, but it wasn’t enough.

UNC quarterback Jacolby Criswell had an uneven game (18 of 33 for 273 yards and three touchdowns) but made several huge completions that kept the Tar Heels in the game.

“When I heard the news, I was devastated,” Criswell said of Brown’s firing. “What happened with Coach … it was tough.”

Criswell said that Brown delivered the news to the players after practice on Tuesday.

“Every single player just came, told him how much we appreciate him for all he’s done for us,” Criswell said.

A questionable roughing-the-passer penalty on UNC came on the same drive that an N.C. State right guard Timothy McKay cut-blocked Rucker below his left knee, causing a game-ending injury. Later, he was on crutches and wearing a walking boot on his left foot.

That triggered angry reactions from Dez Evans and Jahvaree Ritzie toward State players. State had a first down at UNC’s 31 but lost 27 yards and punted.

Three plays after UNC cornerback Marcus Allen intercepted N.C. State quarterback C.J. Bailey’s pass in the end zone, State defensive end Davin Vann hit Criswell from behind to force a fumble, giving the Pack the ball at the UNC 10.

After a Caleb Kost pass-interference call gave State the ball at the UNC 2, Pack running back Smothers’ TD run gave them a 7–0 lead.

Aided by a pass-interference call on fourth-and-three, UNC scored on a 17-yard scoring play on a slant pass from Criswell to Jones — wearing a Tylee Craft No. 13 jersey — with 7:49 left. But Noah Burnette missed a PAT for only the second time in his career and the first time this season to make it 7–6.

A big third-and-7 Criswell to John Copenhaver connection for 19 yards and Criswell’s 13-yard run gave UNC a chance at a late first-half score. But Burnette’s 43-yard field-goal try went wide right with 41 seconds left.

After UNC went three-and-out following the second-half kickoff, the Wolfpack went 36 yards on eight plays to produce a 41-yard Kanoah Vinesett field goal and a 10–6 lead.

Hampton responded on the first play of the next drive by dashing through the middle of the line on a career-long 75-yard run for a touchdown and a 13–10 UNC lead with 9:50 left.

Bailey’s 37-yard pass to flex receiver Justin Joly set up State at the UNC 36, but Carolina safety Will Hardy made a terrific play in the end zone to break up a would-be touchdown reception to Joly later in the drive. State had to settle for a tying 40-yard Vinesett field goal with 5:46 left in the third quarter.

Criswell threw a bullet pass that Nate McCollum caught for 18 yards on third-and-17 to keep the drive alive. On the next play, he connected with wide receiver Chris Culliver for a 50-yard touchdown pass, beating State cornerback Devon Marshall one-on-one on the sideline pattern (Culliver’s longest reception of his career and first career score) to give UNC a 20–13 lead with 2:19 left in the third quarter. It was the longest TD pass of Criswell’s career.

State needed only six plays to go 69 yards for a 14-yard Dante Daniels touchdown reception to tie it at 20 with 14:15 left in the game.

After McCollum returned the kickoff 41 yards, Culliver made a terrific catch down the right sideline for a 46-yard reception. That led to Burnette banging a kick off the right upright and in for a 25-yard field goal, and UNC led 23–20 with 12:29 remaining.

The Wolfpack again easily drove down the field, this time 69 yards in seven plays, with Bailey connecting with KC Concepcion on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 8:01 remaining. The spot on the PAT was mishandled, and the try failed, to leave N.C. State’s lead 26–23.

A 28-yard Vinesett field goal with 2:37 left gave the Wolfpack a six-point lead.

Carolina responded with a three-play, 75-yard scoring drive that Hampton capped with his reception for a touchdown.

State drove down again, with a 44-yard Noah Rogers reception on an outstanding catch to put the Pack to the UNC 12 before the game-winning TD.

Bailey was 14 of 20 for 242 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while Smothers ran for 90 yards.

NOTES — Carolina had nine penalties for 94 yards. … UNC right tackle Trevyon Green suffered a game-ending injury in the second quarter and was replaced by freshman Luke Masterson. … Carolina failed to score on its first drive in all 12 regular-season games and has been shut out in the first quarter for the last four games, the longest streak since 2017. … UNC’s six first-half points were the fewest since being shutout before halftime by Virginia Tech in 2021. … Hampton became the fourth ACC player in the last 20 years to rush for more than 1,500 yards in successive seasons. … Hamptton’s 1,660 yards are the second-most in program history behind only the 1,720 from Don McCauley in 1970. … During the senior day ceremony, the late Tylee Craft was honored with his family on the field. … N.C. State has beaten UNC four years in a row, but the Tar Heels lead the series 68–40–6. … Brown finishes his coaching career 288–155–1.

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N.C. State 35, UNC 30

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Team	ACC	All
No. 16 Virginia	7–1	10–2
No. 12 Miami	6–2	10–2
No. 25 SMU	6–2	8–4
No. 24 Georgia Tech	6–2	9–3
Pittsburgh	6–2	8–4
Duke	6–2	7–5
Louisville	4–4	8–4
Wake Forest	4–4	8–4
California	4–4	7–5
Clemson	4–4	7–5
N.C. State	4–4	7–5
Stanford	3–5	4–8
Florida State	2–6	5–7
North Carolina	2–6	4–8
Virginia Tech	2–6	3–9
Syracuse	1–7	3–9
Boston College	1–7	2–10

Friday’s result
No. 4 Georgia 16, No. 24 Georgia Tech 9
Saturday’s results
N.C. State 42, North Carolina 19
No. 12 Miami 38, Pittsburgh 7
Louisville 41, Kentucky 0
Clemson 28, South Carolina 14
Boston College 34, Syracuse 12
Duke 49, Wake Forest 32
Florida 40, Florida State 21
No. 16 Virginia 27, Virginia Tech 7
California 38, No. 25 SMU 35
No. 9 Notre Dame 49, Stanford 20
Saturday’s ACC championship game
No. 16 Virginia vs. Duke in Charlotte, 8 p.m., ABC

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Month/ date	Score/ time	Opponent	Record/ TV
September
1	L, 48–14	vs. TCU	0–1
6	W, 20–3	at Charlotte	1–1
13	W, 41–6	vs. Richmond	2–1
20	L, 34–9	at UCF	2–2
October
4	L, 38–10	vs. Clemson	2–3, 0–1 ACC
17 (Fri.)	L, 21–18	at California	2–4, 0–2
25	L, 17–16, OT	vs. No. 16 Virginia	2–5, 0–3
31 (Fri.)	W, 27–10	at Syracuse	3–5, 1–3
November
8	W, 20–15	vs. Stanford	4–5, 2–3
15	L, 28–12	at Wake Forest	4–6, 2–4
22	L, 32–25	vs. Duke	4–7, 2–5
29	L, 42–19	at N.C. State	4–8, 2–6

Photos courtesy of UNC Athletics