Tag: Carolina football

UNC falls in Top 25 ahead of ACC title game; what are Heels’ bowl projections?

North Carolina and Clemson head into Saturday’s ACC championship game in Charlotte trying to rebound after home losses to rivals that dropped both in the latest AP Top 25 poll. The Tigers (10–2) fell three spots to No. 10 after a 31–30 Saturday upset loss to South Carolina and the Tar Heels (9–3) dropped six spots to No. 24 following a 30–27 double-overtime loss to N.C. State for their second consecutive home defeat.

How to watch, listen to UNC football, basketball on busy week with conflicts

There were groans throughout the Carolina fanbase when everyone realized that the men’s basketball game and the football game on Black Friday would overlap. Fans at home will no doubt use a two-television setup, but it’s frustrating for fans who are at Kenan Stadium to see the No. 18 Tar Heels face N.C. State, knowing that they are missing the top-ranked men’s basketball team’s game.

Maye rallies UNC again; Burnette boots Heels to Coastal title

WINSTON-SALEM — Drake Maye had passes dropped. He had receivers go down. But, of course, the sensational redshirt freshman quarterback overcame it all on Saturday night. Maye threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as he led No. 15 Carolina to a 36–34 victory over Wake Forest to clinch the final ACC Coastal Division title. The Tar Heels (9–1, 6–0 ACC) will face No. 12 Clemson (9–1, 7–0) in the ACC championship game in Charlotte at 8 p.m. on Dec. 3.

UNC moves up in CFP rankings but path to Orange Bowl gets tougher

North Carolina, which moved up two spots in the College Football Playoff rankings to No. 15 on Tuesday, has a more difficult path to the Orange Bowl, thanks to Clemson’s blowout loss at Notre Dame. The Tar Heels (8–1, 5–0 ACC) can clinch the Coastal Division title and an ACC championship game matchup on Dec. 3 in Charlotte with the Tigers if they can win at Wake Forest (6–3, 2–3) at 7:30 Saturday night (ESPN2). Carolina also clinches if Virginia Tech beats Duke and Miami defeats Georgia Tech.

Closing in on Coastal title, UNC moves up on AP Top 25

North Carolina, a win away from clinching the last ACC Coastal Division title, moved up two spots to No. 15 in the latest AP Top 25 poll. The Tar Heels (8–1, 5–0 ACC) can put away the Coastal title and a spot in the Dec. 3 ACC championship game against Clemson (8–1, 6–0) with a victory at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Wake Forest (6–3, 2–3). While UNC comes off a 31–28 road win over Virginia, the Demon Deacons lost at N.C. State 30–21.

Carolina No. 17 in the first College Football Playoff rankings

The streaking Carolina football team is No. 17 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, released on Tuesday night, the 13th time the Tar Heels have made the ranking and the third time they’ve made the initial rankings. The Tar Heels, ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25 and No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, were last in the CFP ranking as the No. 13 team on selection day Dec. 20, 2020, when they earned a berth in the Orange Bowl.

Maye’s eye-popping statistics, amazing play as a freshman demand Heisman consideration

It’s been 73 seasons since a Carolina player had a solid chance of winning the Heisman Trophy, but week by week, Drake Maye is throwing history for a loop. Not since legendary running back Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice finished second in the Heisman voting in 1948 and 1949 (and probably should have won it) has a Tar Heel earned his way into the Heisman Trophy discussion this far into the season. To do it as a redshirt freshman is even more remarkable.

Tar Heels in NFL: Hollins plays well; Dalton makes NFL debut; Ezeudu gets first NFL start; Fox has best NFL game

On a day that UNC alums didn’t put up big numbers, there were some nice stories with defensive end Jalen Dalton finally making his NFL debut, rookie offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu making his first NFL start and rookie linebacker Tomon Fox playing his best professional game. Wide receiver Mack Hollins was one of the few bright spots for the Las Vegas Raiders in their 24–0 road loss to the New Orleans Saints. Hollins caught seven passes on eight targets for a team-leading 64 yards, including a 14-yard reception. Star wide receiver Davante Adams, who battled through sickness last week, only had one catch on five targets for three yards.