Believe it or not, the North Carolina Tar Heels will still participate in college football’s postseason.
That reality is certainly difficult to believe after Saturday’s letdown, in which UNC lost 41-21 at Boston College. The final score is misleading, as North Carolina (6-5, 3-4) trailed by 34 points, until two garbage-time scores from freshman running back Davion Gause.
On Saturday, Nov. 16, the Tar Heels clinched their sixth-consecutive trip to a bowl game. UNC held off Wake Forest, 31-24, enjoying a career day from Omarion Hampton and timely defensive stops.
North Carolina’s bowl projections have changed throughout 2024: being included in the initial conversation after three straight wins to open the year, falling out of contention with four straight losses, then re-appearing after escaping the Demon Deacons.
On Monday, the Tar Heels’ bowl projection changed once again. USA TODAY Sports now has UNC to the Sun Bowl, played annually in El Paso, Texas, with 2024 CFP National Champion runner Washington the Tar Heels’ opponent.
After beating Wake, UNC was predicted to face a ranked Tulane squad in the Annapolis, Md.-based Military Bowl.
North Carolina was previously projected to the Sun Bowl on several occasions, most recently after beating NC Central in Week 3.
UNC is no stranger to playing in the Sun Bowl with five previous appearances, most recently in a 25-23 loss to now-ACC foe Stanford in 2016. North Carolina fans might best remember this game by now-New York Jets defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, who continuously entered the backfield and made Mitch Trubisky uncomfortable.
If the Tar Heels beat NC State on Saturday, they’re likely projected to a better bowl game. If UNC loses, there’s no telling what bowl it ends up in.