Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels football

UNC football going with storm trooper uniforms for final 2024 road game

What uniforms will the North Carolina Tar Heels wear in their 2024 road football finale?

The North Carolina Tar Heels are on a football high right now, winning their past three games and clinching bowl eligibility by beating Wake Forest.

UNC (6-4, 3-3 ACC) won’t know its bowl opponent until sometime in early December, after conference championships are played, but we currently know that UNC has two more chances to improve its bowl standing.

North Carolina’s next chance to do so will be on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 12 p.m., when it faces Boston College for the first time since 2020.

When the Tar Heels take the field, they’ll be doing so with fresh, all-white uniforms. Good thing there’s no snow in the forecast for Chestnut Hill.

UNC donned its all-Carolina Blue uniforms on Saturday, Nov. 16 against the Demon Deacons, which panned out pretty well. North Carolina withstood a late charge from Wake, winning 31-24 and recovering a scary onside kick in the closing minutes. Omarion Hampton set a career-high with 244 rushing yards and climbed up the Tar Heel history books, scoring the eventual game-winning touchdown.

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Regardless of how UNC plays on the football field, there’s one thing we can always count on: players having fresh uniforms. There’s 27 different combinations – and North Carolina is going with one of my personal favorites this Saturday.

What will Boston College (5-5, 2-4 ACC) be wearing come game day? The Eagles rock garnet, gold and white as their primary colors.

Regardless of what Boston College wears, it’ll be focused on making a bowl game for the second-straight year. The Eagles are 1-4 in their past five games after a 4-1 start, which included an early ranking in the AP Poll.

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Drake Maye earns praise after Week 11 game

Drake Maye was recognized as one of the NFL’s top rookies in Week 11.

Since New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo switched to former UNC standout Drake Maye as his starting quarterback, one of the NFL’s worst offensive units now suddenly has life.

Maye has a touchdown pass in each of his five starts, including a career-high three in his first start against the Houston Texans. Taking Maye’s stats a step further, Maye has multiple touchdown passes in three of those starts.

Maye is fresh off his highest passing yardage total, with 282 in a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 14. He completed 29-of-39 passes, tossed two touchdowns and ran for 27 yards.

For Maye’s latest outing, he was tabbed one of NFL Analyst/former Good Morning Football host Peter Schrager’s Top 5 Week 11 rookies.

Maye, ranked third amongst Schrager’s rookies, found himself on the list with Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (second), Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight and Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix.

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After New England suffered below-average quarterback play from initial starter Jacoby Brissett, Mayo decided the team needed a spark. That’s why he went to Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, whom the Patriots invested heavily in to be their franchise guy.

Overall through seven appearances, Maye has 1,236 passing yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Maye is also showcasing his speed for the Patriots, collecting 260 rushing yards and a rushing touchdowns, on 28 carries.

What makes Maye’s rookie year even more impressive is that he’s playing behind a struggling offensive line. Maye also lacks a true number one wide receiver, like he had at North Carolina, with the likes of Josh Downs and Devontez Walker.

I was hopeful Maye would be the latest Tar Heel to thrive in the NFL, but I didn’t think it’d be this early in his rookie season. I’m excited to watch how Maye’s career pans out.

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UNC football team to face off against ranked team in bowl projection

Which bowl game is UNC projected to play in?

Besides SMU, who is the hottest ACC football program right now? Is it Clemson? Miami? Louisville? Pitt?

If you guessed the North Carolina Tar Heels, you’re correct – and also maybe a bit shocked, considering how the season looked over after an October loss to Georgia.

UNC (6-4, 3-3 ACC) won its past three games: dominating Virginia and Florida State on the road, then holding off a late charge from Wake Forest on Saturday. As a result of its hot streak, North Carolina is now bowl eligible for the sixth-consecutive season.

What bowl game will the Tar Heels play in? According to USA TODAY Sports’ latest projections, UNC will travel to Annapolis, Md. and take on Tulane in the Military Bowl.

North Carolina’s last trip to the Military Bowl resulted in its most recent bowl victory. Back in 2019, the Tar Heels obliterated the Temple Owls, 55-13, behind three touchdown passes and nearly 300 yards from Sam Howell.

Since demolishing Temple, bowl games haven’t been too kind to UNC.

North Carolina’s bowl skid started early in 2021, when it lost 41-27 to Texas A&M in the Orange Bowl. In December later that year, the Tar Heels lost the Duke’s Mayo Bowl to South Carolina, 38-21. UNC was a missed field goal away from beating Oregon (28-27) in the 2022 Holiday Bowl, then it got stomped (30-10) by West Virginia in the 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Given that North Carolina wasn’t even supposed to make a bowl game midway through October, I think it’ll be more motivated to play in one this season. The question is: who will play and who will sit out?

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Tar Heels pick up crystal ball prediction for big recruiting target

Will the UNC football program land a big four-star recruit?

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ football program is still working on its 2025 recruiting class as early signing day approaches in December. As it stands right now, it’s a small class for the Tar Heels but it leaves room for them to add a big transfer class.

Despite it being small, there are some talented players committed and UNC is looking to still add its biggest prospect. That could be former Clemson commit Isaiah Campbell.

The Durham, North Carolina native decommitted from the Tigers a few months back and since then, it’s been a battle between UNC and Tennessee to land him. Going up against the Volunteers is no easy task especially with their NIL initiative as well as their recent success on the field. But one recruiting analyst believes UNC has a legit chance.

Anna Adams of 247Sports put in a crystal ball for the Tar Heels to land Campbell when he makes his decision during the early signing period. The pick came on Tuesday, and is the most recent pick for any program.

Tom Loy of 247Sports put a pick in for Tennessee back in October.

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Campbell is ranked No. 33 nationally, the No. 6 defensive lineman and the No. two player in the state of North Carolina per the 247Sports recruiting rankings.

UNC star Omarion Hampton one of just 10 Semifinalists for prestigious Running Back Award

The Seminfinalist List for one of college’s football top awards includes a player UNC football fans are extremely familiar with.

Every time you turn on a UNC football game, chances are you see Omarion Hampton with the opposing defense behind him.

Hampton, the Tar Heels’ star junior running back, continues to prove himself as a household name in college football. Just last Saturday in North Carolina’s bowl-clinching win over Wake Forest, Hampton scored his 14th touchdown of 2024, plus set career highs of 35 carries and 244 yards.

Hampton now owns the UNC record with eight-consecutive 100-yard games, plus he is now tied with Marquise Williams for third-all time in UNC rushing touchdowns. Hampton now has 3,327 rushing yards for his Tar Heel career, putting him Top-5 in program history.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Hampton was selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award. This prestigious award is given annually to college football’s top running back.

Hampton is joined on the list by Heisman Trophy frontrunner Ashton Jeanty, SMU’s Brashard Smith, Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo, Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Tulane’s Makhi Hughes, UCF’s RJ Harvey, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens and Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks.

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With North Carolina shifting to a run-first offense this season, Hampton is thriving as his team’s primary offensive creator. Hampton leads the ACC in rushing yardage and has 100 yards in almost ever UNC game, with the lone exception being a 38-20 victory over Charlotte, when he missed the second half due to a minor injury.

I’d be shocked if Hampton doesn’t depart for the NFL after the type of season he’s enjoying. Sure, Hampton has another year of eligibility, but his draft stock is so high and he’s already proven himself as a Tar Heel.

North Carolina still has three more games to play in its current season, so there’s plenty more time to watch Hampton continue destroying defenses.

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Start time announced for UNC-NC State football regular season finale

You can now start planning for the UNC-NC State football regular-season finale.

No matter who the North Carolina Tar Heels beat in any given football season, there’s one opponent in recent years who they can’t seem to get past: NC State, their in-state rivals from just 30 minutes down the road in Raleigh.

Last year, UNC (6-3, 3-3 ACC) started 6-0 before its epic collapse put it back in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The Wolfpack (5-5, 2-4 ACC) were part of North Carolina’s late-season slide, stomping the boys in Carolina Blue by a 39-20 mark in Raleigh.

It’s now State’s turn to play in Chapel Hill this season – and you can bet it’ll be a loud, chippy game.

Earlier on Monday, we learned that the Tar Heels and Wolfpack will kick their regular-season finale off at 3:30 p.m. ET.

This is just late enough to have a nighttime atmosphere (it starts getting dark at 5:30 p.m.), but early enough as to where fans – and players – can celebrate afterwards.

If you remember NC State coach Dave Doeren’s infamous words about UNC after last year’s game, he said, “those pieces of **** haven’t beaten us in 1,460 days.” I have no issue with Doeren firing his players up and taking friendly jabs at North Carolina, but saying this about kids is crossing the line.

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The Tar Heels are playing their best football of 2024, winning their past three games behind a combination of Omarion Hampton and strong defense, to climb back into bowl contention. This comes after UNC’s coldest stretch, in which four consecutive losses had fans questioning how much longer Mack Brown would be coaching.

The Wolfpack, ranked in the preseason, are sitting at .500 overall after a quarterback switch and inconsistent play. They will travel to Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 21 before heading up to Kenan.

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Omarion Hampton’s record-breaking game against Wake earns him weekly ACC honors

UNC star running back Omarion Hampton picked up ACC Weekly Honors for the third time this season.

At this point in the college football season, are you surprised at the type of year UNC junior running back Omarion Hampton is experiencing?

In North Carolina’s 31-24 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday, Hampton rushed for a career-high 244 yards on a career-high 35 carries. Hampton also added what would be the game-winning touchdown, channeling his inner Saquon Barkley on a 6-yard, hurdle-and-score with just over two minutes remaining.

Hampton led all FBS rushers with his Week 12 output – and climbed up the Tar Heel record books. Hampton moved into a third-place tie with Marquise Williams (2011-2015) for his 35th rushing touchdown, plus he now owns the program record for consecutive 100-yard games (eight).

After reading all this, it should come as no surprise that Hampton was named ACC Running Back of the Week. This was Hampton’s third time earning the honor – and seventh time overall in his career.

Sitting outside of the Top 5 FBS rushing yardage leaders before the Wake Forest game, Hampton climbed to second with 1,422 rushing yards in 2024. The one man he trails is Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, the should-be Heisman Trophy winner, who currently has 1,893 yards and has the Broncos in the thick of CFP contention.

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Hampton could very well pass 2,000 yards if he continues at his current pace, though he’d have to average 193 rushing yards over UNC’s final three games.

North Carolina ships up to Boston College on Saturday, Nov. 23, hosts NC State for its regular-season finale on Nov. 30, then will play in a bowl game for the sixth-consecutive season – at a date TBD.

There’s no question Hampton is one of the best running backs in Tar Heel history. Is he THE best running back?

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Omarion Hampton sets new career-high in win over Wake Forest

Saturday night cemented why Omarion Hampton is one of the best players in UNC football history.

I’m running out of ways to write about how talented of a running back UNC’s Omarion Hampton is.

On Saturday night in a closer-than-expected 31-24 victory over Wake Forest, Hampton ran for 244 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries (7 YPC). Hampton set a new career-high with his yardage output, breaking his previous best of 234, set in North Carolina’s 40-34 overtime victory against App State in 2023.

“It’s as good as any,” Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown said, when asked about where Hampton’s career game ranks amongst running backs he’s coached. “I mean, 249 yards is just absolutely unbelievable. I was on a radio show before the season started and somebody said, “where does he rank in the great backs you’ve coached?” And I said he’s in the middle of it. He really is. And there’s some great ones. Everybody in the country would want Omarion Hampton on their team, he’s gonna be a great pro player.”

Not only did Big O set his new career high, but Saturday was Hampton’s eighth-straight game with 100 yards, a new Tar Heels record.

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Hampton is now tied with former UNC quarterback Marquise Williams at 35 rushing touchdowns, which is third all-time. Hampton now has 3,327 career rushing yards, climbing North Carolina legends Don McCauley and Kelvin Bryant on Saturday night.

“It’s so real of a feeling, just knowing that making history here, always growing up a fan, being here and everything like that,” Hampton said on climbing up the all-time list. “It’s so real of a feeling.”

On a night where Jacolby Criswell and his receivers struggled to get the passing game clicking, Hampton’s output was much-needed.

“We just knew we had to make something work because we were just staying on each other, just going to the sidelines knowing we have to make something happen, knowing that whatever it is we’ve gotta make it work,” Hampton said. “I feel like (offensive coordinator) Chip Lindsey did a good job play-calling and everything, to help us set up different runs and everything for the defense. I feel like it just all planned out well.”

To cap off his legendary night, Hampton scored the Tar Heels’ final touchdown. Hampton channeled Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley, one of his favorite pros to watch, on his hurdle-and-score touchdown.

“Yeah he’s definitely crazy,” Hampton said about Saquon. “I’ve always been a fan of Saquon, just his run style and everything like that. Always watched film on him and everything like that. He’s definitely a super-talented guy.”

UNC is extremely lucky to have a back of Hampton’s caliber. His next chance to break even more records comes on Saturday, Nov. 23 in a 12 p.m. kickoff at Boston College.

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Omarion Hampton’s big night, second-half defense helps UNC beat Wake Forest and extend bowl streak

Omarion Hampton enjoyed the game of his life Saturday. UNC’s defense held off Wake Forest late, helping the Tar Heels to a huge win that extend their bowl streak.

If the North Carolina Tar Heels didn’t have Omarion Hampton on Saturday night against Wake Forest, I think tonight’s outcome would look a lot different.

If UNC’s defense didn’t step up in the fourth quarter – albeit an almost collapse – I think we could be saying the same thing.

Thanks to Big O and a resurgent defensive unit, North Carolina beat Wake Forest, 31-17, for its third-consecutive victory and to make a bowl game for the sixth-straight year.

Hampton set multiple career highs – and rewrote the Tar Heel record books – in the best game of his collegiate career Saturday night.

Hampton carried the football a career-high 33 times and set a new career-high with 244 rushing yards, in addition to scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown that extended UNC’s lead to two possessions. He’s now fifth in career rushing yards (3,327), passing Don McCauley and Kelvin Bryant on the night. Hampton’s 35 rushing touchdowns also tie him with former North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams for third all-time.

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While Hampton stole the headlines, North Carolina’s defense also played a big role.

The Tar Heels allowed a Wake Forest touchdown with under two minutes remaining in the final quarter, but kept Wake scoreless for nearly 20 minutes – after allowing 14 third-quarter points. UNC’s lockdown defense spanned five drives, in which Wake only gained 27 yards on 15 plays.

North Carolina looked lost at one point this season, losing four-straight games and reverting to its old defensive tendencies.

Now, thanks to the best running back in the country and a resurgent defense. the Tar Heels are bowl eligible for a sixth-straight year and one of the ACC’s hottest teams.

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North Carolina becomes bowl eligible with win over Wake Forest

UNC football’s win over Wake Forest has them bowl eligible.

This season has been a rollercoaster for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team. After starting 3-0, the Tar Heels had an embarrassing loss to James Madison which began a four-game losing streak.

In that losing streak, UNC blew a 20-point lead to Duke and lost close games to Pitt and Georgia Tech. Things looked bleak and there were even rumors of Mack Brown stepping down.

But the head coach didn’t panic, neither did his players

UNC responded with a three-game win streak including two on the road and a win on Saturday night against Wake Forest. The 31-24 win over the Demon Deacons put the Tar Heels as bowl eligible as they will be heading to a bowl game for a sixth-straight season.

“Well, I’m so proud of this team because they have overcome so much. We lose a 23-year-old, it’s their dear friend,” Mack Brown said after the game.”A great young person that taught us so much. Third quarterback, offensive line issues, best player on defense gets hurt. But they just kept fighting. And that was Tylee’s slogan, more than anything else. We’ve learned a lot of lessons. We’ve gotten through the storm, we’ve seen some rainbows, now we just have to finish.”

That’s pretty impressive for the Tar Heels, especially how this season has gone for them. They very easily could have continued their slide this season and just gone through the motions, especially with the passing of teammate Tylee Craft. But they didn’t do that. They rallied around each other and have salvaged something this season.

The next step is to continue to finish this season strong including a road game at Boston College next week followed by the season finale at home against NC State and then the bowl game. Closing out strong will be big, no matter what the future holds in Chapel Hill.

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