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CHAPEL HILL — The pitch shifted dramatically in the second half, thanks to a formation shakeup. After No. 2 North Carolina got outshot in a half for the first time all season, the undefeated Tar Heels took control in the second half to avenge a loss last season with a 1–0 victory Friday over Virginia Tech at Dorrance Field in the ACC opener for both teams.
Undefeated Carolina returned to its preseason United Soccer Coaches women’s soccer Top 25 position at No. 2 after winning a road game against one ranked SEC team and tying another in a big week for senior forward Avery Patterson.
Fans will see next season’s Carolina’s men’s and women’s basketball teams for the first time on Friday, Oct. 13, when “Live Action with Carolina Basketball” is set for 7 p.m.
North Carolina held on to the No. 2 spot in the NFHCA Coaches Poll released Tuesday morning after a 2–1 road victory Sunday over Old Dominion. The Tar Heels (4–1), who have only lost to No. 1 Iowa (3–2 in overtime on Aug. 27), fell from nine first-place votes last week to three this week.
Mack Brown says everybody at UNC is concerned about Tez Walker and wants to get on the same page so they can do something to help him. That’s why he was scheduled to join the noon UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees emergency meeting on Monday to figure out the best options for Walker after the NCAA denied the wide receiver’s appeal. Brown doesn’t know how likely he’ll play this season.
No. 3 Carolina and No. 12 Alabama waged a physical battle that didn’t include many good scoring chances, and the Crimson Tide’s press got the best of the Tar Heels for much of the night. The Tide drew 12 fouls and three yellow cards, making it tough for UNC as the teams played to a 1–1 draw Sunday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
There was room to grow for Washington quarterback Sam Howell in his first NFL start as QB1 on Sunday, but at least he got a victory. Howell rebounded from an interception and a costly fumble to throw for one touchdown and run for another as the Commanders earned a 20–16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in the opener for both teams.
Carolina’s thrilling 40–34 double-overtime victory over Appalachian State didn’t impress AP voters enough for the Tar Heels to move up in the Top 25 poll. Barely beating a Sun Belt Conference team cost them in the rankings. UNC (2–0) fell three spots to No. 20 in the latest AP Top 25, released Sunday afternoon, heading into its 3:30 Saturday game against Minnesota (2–0) in a game that ESPN will televise.
Last Saturday seems so far away. Just one week ago, UNC manhandled South Carolina in a physically dominating show by the defense. On Saturday night against Appalachian State, the ghosts of Tar Heel defenses past came to haunt Kenan Stadium in Carolina’s home opener.
Watch Carolina players Omarion Hampton, Drake Maye and Cedric Gray talk about the Tar Heels’ victory over Appalachian State.
Watch Coach Mack Brown’s press conference after Carolina’s double-OT victory Saturday over Appalachian State.
By R.L. Bynum CHAPEL HILL — On a night when Carolina struggled to find a rhythm on offense, sophomore running…
While Drake Powell continues to rise in the ESPN rankings impressively, the other five players committed to Carolina’s men’s and women’s basketball teams all dropped with the latest list. ESPN has changed Powell from a four-star to a five-star and elevated him from 34th in the Class of 2024 to 12th.
A pair of top-10 SEC teams haven’t been able to overcome the No. 3 North Carolina women’s soccer team. Five days after the Tar Heels were the better Carolina on the football field, they proved the same on the soccer pitch. Four days after a two-goal win over No. 7 Arkansas in Chapel Hill, the undefeated Tar Heels won 2–1 in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday night to give No. 10 South Carolina its first loss.
You’re likely frustrated if you are a Spectrum cable customer who can’t make it to Kenan Stadium for Saturday’s 5:15 UNC home football opener against Appalachian State. ACC Network, one of the 26 channels currently off Spectrum’s menu because of a carriage dispute between Charter Communications and Disney, will televise the game.
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