Tag: 2024 UNC Football Season

UNC included in latest bowl projections despite consecutive losses

Despite losing their past two games, the Tar Heels are still projected to a postseason bowl.

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ football season quickly went from unblemished to unpromising.

UNC started the year off with consecutive wins against Minnesota, Charlotte and NC Central, despite struggling for large parts of each. North Carolina did this with new quarterbacks each week, an inexperienced receiving corps, a young offensive line and first-year defensive coordinator.

The Tar Heels were then exposed in a Week 4 loss to James Madison, facing a 31-point halftime deficit en route to a 770-50 loss. UNC gave fans false hope against archrival Duke, shutting out its archrival in the first half and building a 20-point lead, then its defense allowed 21 unanswered points in a devastating loss.

Despite the inconsistencies in its on-field play, North Carolina is still projected to a bowl game.

In its post-Week 5 bowl projections, USA Today has the Tar Heels playing South Florida in the Tampa, Fla.-based Gasparilla Bowl on Friday, Dec. 20. This projection would practically be a home game for USF, which is also located in Tampa.

It wouldn’t be UNC and USF’s first matchup with each other if they end up facing off, as the two programs played in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons. The Bulls beat the Tar Heels in both games: winning 37-20 in Chapel Hill during 2006, then 37-10 the following year in Tampa.

You could make a case for UNC and USF’s current seasons mirroring each other, with each squad losing its last two contests. The Bulls lost by 35 points to Miami (50-15) two weeks ago and at Tulane (45-10) last weekend, though they appeared on the verge of upsetting Alabama in Week 1, before the visiting Crimson Tide pulled away.

If North Carolina wants to even think about playing in a bowl game, it’ll have to start winning – fast. The Tar Heels need three more victories for bowl eligibility, while the Bulls need four more.

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Start time announced for UNC-Georgia Tech Week 7 football matchup

When will the UNC and Georgia Tech football programs match up in Week 7?

After looking like their defense turned a corner in the first three weeks of the 2024 college football season, the North Carolina Tar Heels have quickly come back down to earth.

The embarrassment started in Week 4 against James Madison, when UNC allowed over 600 yards in a 70-50 defeat. That embarrassment continued this past weekend against archrival Duke, when North Carolina allowed 21 unanswered, second-half points in a 21-20 loss.

The Tar Heels welcome a resurgent Pitt squad to Kenan Stadium this coming weekend. With the Panthers’ 522 yards per game, which ranks second in the ACC, UNC’s chances are pretty grim.

On Saturday, October 12, North Carolina welcomes Georgia Tech to Kenan Stadium. Earlier today, we learned that Tar Heels-Yellow Jackets clash will kick off at 12 p.m.

No matter how UNC is playing in any given season, it always struggles with Georiga Tech, losing five of the past six matchups. North Carolina’s last victory in the series came in 2019, when it won 38-22 in Atlanta, but it hasn’t beaten the Yellow Jackets at home since 2016.

Ironically, when the Tar Heels’ defense play well for large parts of Weeks 1-3, their offense struggled. Now, it’s the exact opposite, with UNC finding no issue in ways to put points on the board.

Can North Carolina finally beat Georgia Tech next weekend, turn its season around and work closer to bowl eligibility (six wins)?

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Mack Brown to face his former defensive coordinator on Saturday evening

Mack Brown faces Manny Diaz for the first time since 2013. Which former Texas football coach wins on Saturday?

Before Mack Brown returned to coach the North Carolina Tar Heels, he spent nearly two decades coaching the Texas Longhorns.

The highlight of Brown’s coaching career came at Texas in 2005, when his Vince Young-led Longhorns beat USC in the National Championship. Brown never found the same success after that, though, eventually resigning from Texas in 2013.

While in Austin, Brown also had a few solid defensive units. Texas’ 2011 and 2012 units were led by Manny Diaz, but Brown fired Diaz after the Longhorns’ 40-21 loss to BYU in 2013.

As luck would have it – on Saturday afternoon in Durham, Brown and his UNC players will face a Duke Blue Devils squad led by head coach Manny Diaz.

Since coaching at Texas, Diaz has made stops at Louisiana Tech (2014), Mississippi State (2015), Miami (2016-2021), Penn State (2022 and 2023). Diaz was hired to be Temple’s head coach in 2018, but returned to Miami two weeks later.

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I don’t know how much bad blood Diaz has against Brown, considering it’s been a decade. But with a Duke team exceeding expectations early – and North Carolina coming off its worst loss in over a decade – Saturday is the perfect time for Diaz to enact his revenge.

Does Mack have enough in the tank to help the Tar Heels respond and continue their Victory Bell streak?

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Kickoff time for UNC-Pitt homecoming football game announced

The North Carolina Tar Heels will welcome the Pittsburgh Panthers to Kenan Stadium on October 5. When will the two programs kickoff?

After a close road win against a quality opponent, followed by two closer-than-expected wins against lesser opponents, the North Carolina Tar Heels finally got exposed at home against James Madison in last weekend’s football matchup.

This coming weekend doesn’t get any easier for UNC, which travels to play archrival Duke at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Blue Devils are undefeated and have lost five consecutive Victory Bell battles, so if they want to steal it back, 2024 is the year.

In two weekends, North Carolina returns to Kenan Stadium for Homecoming against Pitt, which is 4-0 and led by Alabama transfer Eli Holstein.

We finally know the kickoff time for the Tar Heels-Panthers matchup, as the two squads will face off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 5.

UNC has dominated Pitt since the latter joined the ACC in 2011, winning eight of 10 matchups. Given North Carolina’s showing in the JMU game, though, the Panthers should dominate in two weekends.

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The Tar Heels play an unusually home-heavy schedule this season, with Pitt being their fourth home matchup in six games this season.

Playing at 12 p.m. has its advantages – and disadvantages. Advantages allow fans to start their day in Kenan, then have the whole late afternoon/evening to explore Franklin Street.

Disadvantages, though, include not having as much student support. This is a college football game on a Saturday and, given Chapel Hill is one of the nation’s top college towns, students may opt to sleep in.

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New UNC starting QB Jacolby Criswellhas solid game in first start despite turnovers

Jacolby Criswell provided the UNC football team with one of its only positives in a blowout loss against James Madison.

There were hardly any positive takeaways for the UNC football team after Saturday’s poor excuse of a game against James Madison.

The Tar Heels allowed JMU to rack up 611 yards and score 70 points against them. The Dukes scored seven offensive touchdowns, with quarterback Alonza Barnett accounting for all seven (five passing, two rushing), while their defense added two more touchdowns on a blocked punt and pick-six.

If there even was one positive takeaway for North Carolina on Saturday? New starting quarterback Jacolby Criswell, who – despite losing a fumble and throwing a pair of interceptions – threw for a career-high 475 yards and three touchdowns.

Criswell shined particularly on his two first-half touchdown throws. He connected with tight end John Copenhaver for a 35-yard score in the first quarter, then opened up the second quarter scoring when he connected with his starting tight end, Bryson Nesbit, for a 34-yard catch-and-run.

“He made some great throws,” UNC head coach Mack Brown said about Criswell. “Just unbelievable throws. That’s the first real game he started since he’s been here. He started, I think, 4 years ago or something. Played one half. But he made some unbelievable throws today and he’ll just get better and better. And he saw a whole lot of looks, they (JMU) blitzed him a whole lot. He was the one bright spot for sure.”

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Criswell’s third and final touchdown pass went to freshman Jordan Shipp, with the freshman catching a 5-yard, over-the-shoulder pass for his first career score.

It’s extremely difficult to think of positives after a game like today, but knowing that North Carolina found its starting quarterback is something to be happy about.

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Tar Heels to see a heavy dose of former running back in Saturday football clash with JMU

It’ll be interesting watching George Pettaway in a James Madison football uniform on Saturday. Can UNC players slow down their former teammate?

Another game day at Kenan Stadium is almost here, with the North Carolina Tar Heels preparing to face the James Madison Dukes, in Week 4 college football action on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET

UNC will be rolling into the final game of its homestand with Jacolby Criswell at starting QB, with head coach Mack Brown announcing the news earlier Friday. You can also count on another big game from running back Omarion Hampton, while the North Carolina defense hopes to continue proving itself as a top unit.

JMU enters Kenan Stadium 2-0 and off a bye week. In terms of players, though, there’s a name the Tar Heels are very familiar with.

That player is running back George Pettaway, who played at UNC in 2022 and 2023, before hitting the transfer portal this offseason. Pettaway didn’t find a ton of success in Chapel Hill, totaling 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but he currently leads the Dukes with 114 yards and a score.

Take a look at what North Carolina defensive coordinator Geoff Collins had to say about his players facing Pettaway:

“He was a big topic of conversation,” Collins told InsideCarolina’s Evan Rogers. “Obviously, the guys are familiar with him, have a great deal of respect for him. Like him a lot, dynamic in the backfield. And when they move him out in different spots, out in space, a lot of teams will do that and it’s just a decoy. When they do that with Pettaway, it’s real. I mean, he had that long touchdown right before the half against Charlotte. Other things out in space that he’s doing, he’s an impressive athlete and everybody has a great deal of respect for him.”

There’s no doubt the Tar Heels will be excited to see Pettaway before kickoff, but once that initial whistle sounds, it’s all blood, sweat and tears.

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Game time announced for UNC-Duke Victory Bell battle

You can now start making plans to watch UNC-Duke’s Week 5 college football matchup.

After welcoming James Madison to Kenan Stadium this coming Saturday, the North Carolina Tar Heels will finally hit the road again on Saturday, Sept. 28 for a Victory Bell rematch with archrival Duke.

UNC has owned the Blue Devils of late, winning the past five matchups. Each of the last two games were decided by a total of five points, though, including last year’s 47-45 double-overtime thriller.

If anyone remembers last year, North Carolina needed a 43-yard Noah Burnette field goal to send things into overtime. The Tar Heels eventually won when they stopped Duke’s 2-point attempt in the second overtime.

You can now start making game day plays for this year’s edition of the Victory Bell matchup, with a kickoff time of 4 p.m. ET announced earlier today.

UNC and its archrival will start when it’s light out, then finish under the lights of Wallace Wade Stadium. As we get further into fall, more late afternoon/evening games will be played primarily under the lights.

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North Carolina will try for its sixth-consecutive victory against its arch-rivals – and third straight in Durham. The last time UNC was inside Wallace Wade, Drake Maye found Antoine Green for the game-winning touchdown with 16 seconds left.

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Jahvaree Ritzie earning national attention after two games

Jahvaree Ritzie is playing so well, he’s being featured in national college football news.

The college football world didn’t know much about UNC defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie during the 2023 season.

Just two weeks into the 2024 campaign, Ritzie is quietly becoming one of the top defensive tackles in the nation.

Ritzie put himself on the national radar during North Carolina’s 19-17 win at Minnesota in Week 1, sacking Golden Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer three times. In the Tar Heels’ long-awaited return to Kenan Stadium last weekend, Ritzie added two more sacks to his total.

Through two weeks of college football, Ritzie’s five sacks lead the entire ACC.

Ritzie has been performing so well, he was featured in USA Today’s First and 10, which details the top 10 storylines from each week of the college football season.

“NFL scouts call it a money year – a final season when players reach their ceiling, knowing they’re playing for NFL money,” USA Today’s Matt Hayes wrote. “College coaches call it development. Some players simply take longer to reach their potential.”

“Welcome to the argument, North Carolina DT Jahvaree Ritzie, who had eight career starts and 2½ career sacks in three previous seasons as a cog in the middle of the defensive line. Now he leads the nation in sacks (five) as an interior lineman, no less. The obvious grand (and ridiculous) statement is Ritzie is on pace for 30 sacks.”

“The North Carolina single-season record for sacks is 16, set by Lawrence Taylor in 1980. If UNC plays 13 games (12 games plus a bowl game), Ritzie needs to average a sack a game to tie Taylor’s record.

With NC Central coming to town Saturday, Ritzie should add another sack or two to his total.

Will Ritzie be able to continue his insane early-season production, furthering cementing himself as a defensive force?

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Bryson Nesbit sets UNC football program record

Is Bryson Nesbit the best tight end to come through Chapel Hill?

The North Carolina Tar Heels have enjoyed one of college football’s deepest tight end rooms over the past couple seasons, in large part thanks to in-state standout Bryson Nesbit.

A senior from South Mecklenburg High School, Nesbit has a touchdown in each of his four seasons at UNC. Nesbit was a 2024 preseason Mackey Award Watch List honoree, meaning he’s in consideration for the nation’s top tight end.

Nesbit’s most recent touchdown, which opened up North Carolina’s scoring last Saturday in its home opener against Charlotte, set a new program record with 11 career touchdowns.

If you total Nesbit’s career stats through two games of the Tar Heels’ season, he has 1,308 career receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 38 catches. Nesbit needs 505 more receiving yards to surpass Eric Ebron, the last tight end from UNC to be selected in the NFL Draft.

Last year, Nesbit was in a timeshare with both John Copenhaver and Kamari Morales. With Morales now at Boston College, Nesbit should play a lot more this year.

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Nesbit, though, suffered an upper-body injury against Charlotte and didn’t return for the second half of play. North Carolina head coach Mack Brown provided some good news during the postgame press conference, saying that Nesbit – nor anyone else on the roster – is in danger of missing the season.

Will Nesbit return to the field soon and surpass Ebron in the receiving yardage department?

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Max Johnson returning to UNC nearly two weeks after breaking leg

Max Johnson won’t return to the playing field anytime soon, but he will finally return to Chapel Hill this week.

When North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Max Johnson initially fell to the turf on Thursday, Aug. 29 in the season-opener at Minnesota, a dark cloud encapsulated the entire program and fanbase.

Johnson laid on the field for several minutes, grabbing his leg in pain. Initial speculations were that Johnson initially suffered a hip injury, while other reports speculated a knee injury.

Johnson was carried off on a cart, then spent his night (and a few days) in Hennepin County Medical Center recovering from surgery on his broken leg. UNC knew Johnson would come back to Chapel Hill at some point, but a fixing a broken leg is no easy surgery for a doctor to perform.

While Johnson will not play again this year, Tar Heel Nation received some good news in regards to Johnson on Tuesday afternoon.

Johnson’s head coach, Mack Brown, said that Johnson will return to North Carolina on Wednesday.

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Johnson, who transferred from Texas A&M in the offseason and also spent a few years at LSU, was brought in to give UNC an experienced quarterback after Drake Maye’s NFL departure.

With the Tar Heels playing host to NC Central this coming Saturday, expect to see Johnson back within the walls of Kenan Stadium.

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