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Carolina held the No. 1 spot in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 after remaining undefeated in a week with two games against ranked teams and continues to own the ACC’s weekly awards. The Tar Heels won 1–0 at Virginia (which went from No. 22 to unranked) and played Florida State (which moved up a spot to No. 2) to a 3–3 draw. The Tar Heels got all eight first place votes after the Seminoles got one first-place vote a week ago.
On a day that Washington quarterback Sam Howell and his offensive line struggled, one of his former passing targets, Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs, had the best game of his rookie season. Downs is showing the NFL what Tar Heels fans have known for a while: He’s good at getting open and is talented when a pass comes his way.
CHAPEL HILL — Many of the positives were outlined for the North Carolina women’s soccer team Sunday afternoon. Quite a bit was accomplished when the top-ranked Tar Heels tangled with third-ranked Florida State. So the outcome just didn’t seem right.
Carolina’s best start in 26 years has the Tar Heels again moving up in the AP Top 25 poll. UNC (4–0, 1–0 ACC) moved up two spots to No. 15 in the latest poll after Saturday’s 41–24 win at Pittsburgh in the ACC opener for both teams.
You can understand if UNC fan was feeling a little angst about Saturday night’s game vs. Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium. On the road, where Carolina had lost two straight heartbreaking overtime games. Poor weather. A team struggling to find its offensive groove. Looking to go 4–0 for only the third time in the past 40 years. Stormtrooper uniforms, which never seem to work. All the elements were there for an Admiral Ackbar special — it’s a trap.
Hear the thoughts of UNC players Cedric Gray, Drake Maye, Alijah Huzzie and J.J. Jones after the Pittsburgh win.
Hear Coach Mack Brown’s thoughts after UNC’s victory over PIttsburgh.
PITTSBURGH — With Drake Maye digging into his bag of tricks and the defense digging in after a slow start, North Carolina is off to its best start in 26 years. Maye ran for two touchdowns and showed his improvisational skills with a left-handed touchdown pass as the No. 18 Tar Heels rolled to a 41–24 victory over Pittsburgh in their ACC opener for their best start since 1997, when Coach Mack Brown’s last team of his first stint also started 4–0.
In North Carolina’s first game as the nation’s No. 1 women’s soccer team, the undefeated Tar Heels showed why with terrific defense against their fifth ranked opponent in 10 games. Junior forward Ally Sentnor gave UNC the only goal it would need in a 1–0 victory over No. 22 Virginia on Thursday night at Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va.
UNC defensive linebacker Tomari Fox and linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen talk to the media ahead of the Tar Heels’ game Saturday at Pitt.
Tickets for a UNC-Duke game that cost at least $119 (with fees) on secondary ticket markets would be considered a pretty good deal if it was men’s basketball. That number is eye-popping for football, considering the struggles of both programs over the years, particularly the Blue Devils.
North Carolina is back atop the women’s college soccer world. For the first time in over a year, the Tar Heels are No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll released Tuesday afternoon. In addition, UNC is No. 1 in the first RPI list of the season and has played two teams in the top five.
You may be able to play North Carolina to a draw in soccer, but beating the Tar Heels has been another matter so far this season. UNC is one of three schools in the country that are undefeated in men’s soccer and women’s soccer, with a combined record of 8–0–6.
Trailing 18 points in the first half, Sam Howell rallied the Washington Commanders to victory and showed the league his poise, accuracy and arm strength. Howell made a terrific pinpoint throw into double coverage to the end zone in the third quarter for a 30-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin to tie the game early in the second half. Washington held on for a 35–33 victory Sunday at Denver.
Poll voters who had doubts about North Carolina a week earlier were impressed after the Tar Heels’ 31–13 home victory over Minnesota. UNC (3–0) moved up three spots to No. 17 in the latest AP poll, the highest rank since it was No. 17 on Nov. 5 last season after a win over Virginia, a week before peaking at No. 13 following the Nov. 12 victory over Wake Forest.
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