Unbeaten Carolina again moves up in both Top 25 football polls

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.

Good, Bad and Ugly Report: Pittsburgh

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.

Watch: UNC’s Gray, Maye, Huzzie, Jones talk about the Pitt game

Hear the thoughts of UNC players Cedric Gray, Drake Maye, Alijah Huzzie and J.J. Jones after the Pittsburgh win.

Video: Watch Mack Brown’s press conference after the victory over Pitt

Hear Coach Mack Brown’s thoughts after UNC’s victory over PIttsburgh.

Heels off to best start in 26 years after magical Maye performance

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.

Watch: UNC linebacker Tomari Fox and linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen talk to the media

UNC defensive linebacker Tomari Fox and linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen talk to the media ahead of the Tar Heels’ game Saturday at Pitt.

UNC, Duke keep winning, and ticket prices to see them meet keep going up

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.

Tar Heels make jumps in both football polls after win over Minnesota

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.

Good, Bad and Ugly Report: Minnesota

There’s a saying in football about “best on best,” such as your best player vs. another team’s best player, or what you do best vs. what your opponent does best. That idea was expected to be on display as Minnesota visited UNC on Saturday afternoon.

Watch: UNC players talk about the Minnesota victory

Carolina players Armani Chapman, Drake Maye, Power Echols and Nate McCollum and talk about the Minnesota win.

Video: Watch Mack Brown’s comment after beating Minnesota

Watch Mack Brown’s postgame press conference after the Minnesota game.

McCollum shows off playmaking prowess in UNC win over Gophers

CHAPEL HILL — Drake Maye finally got one of the playmaking wide receivers he came into the season expecting and took full advantage. After being banged up and catching only one pass in the first two games, Georgia Tech transfer Nate McCollum caught 15 passes for a career-high 165 yards to ignite No. 20 North Carolina’s 31–13 victory Saturday at Kenan Stadium over Minnesota.

Heels fall in both Top 25 polls after needing two OTs to beat App State

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.

Good, Bad and Ugly Report: Escaping App

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.