It’s always exciting when two teams play each other for the first time.
Exciting, however, isn’t a word that’s be used a lot within the UNC football program.
The Tar Heels went from a 6-0, fringe College Football Playoff team to a struggling, 6-2 squad that likely won’t even make the ACC Championship. They’ve lost to 2-win UVA and Georgia Tech, a former sub-.500 team, who is unofficially known as UNC’s kryptonite.
Carolina has a golden chance to press reset this coming Saturday, when it hosts in-state FCS school Campbell University at 12 p.m.
UNC’s track record against FCS opponents is pretty solid, including a 56-24 thumping of Florida A&M in last year’s season opener. The year before, Carolina downed Wofford, 34-14.
With all that’s gone wrong in Chapel Hill recently, a lot of things are about to go right on Saturday. UNC’s passing game should put up sky-high numbers, while the rushing game should continue thriving.
Of course, Carolina is a team that seemingly plays down to opponents. UNC could simply look at Campbell and decide, “Okay, we can take it easy today.”
Remember when The Citadel beat South Carolina – in Columbia – during the 2015 season? The Tar Heels don’t want to become part of that unfortunate history.
What are some key areas to keep your eye on in Saturday’s game?