Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels football

Staff predictions for UNC football vs. Wake Forest

Our staff predictions for the Week 12 battle between the UNC football program and Wake Forest.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are back on the football field Saturday night for a home game against Wake Forest. With just one win needed to become bowl-eligible, the Tar Heels are hoping to clinch that in front of the home crowd.

UNC has now won back-to-back games, beating Virginia and Florida State on the road. They just had a bye week to reset a bit and enter their final three games of the season. UNC certainly is playing some of their best football the past two games and the hope is that they can put it together again in front of the home crowd.

Take a look at our staff picks for the week.

Zack Pearson

Prediction: UNC 38, Wake Forest 21

Record: 6-3

UNC has been playing better overall the past few games, putting together wins over Florida State and Virginia. Their defense has also been fantastic, dominating as of late.

I think they get another dominating performance on that side of the football and limit the Demon Deacons.

Aidan Jensen

Prediction: UNC 45, Wake Forest 37

Record: 8-1

This is the edition of UNC football we’ve been hoping for all season long. The Tar Heels are winners of two straight, dominating Virginia and Florida State on the road. North Carolina’s offense has been impressive, headlined by no one other than Omarion Hampton, but it’s the UNC defense playing particularly exceptional football right now. The Tar Heels have 17 sacks combined in their past two games. North Carolina will be under the Kenan Stadium lights for the first time Saturday, welcoming in-state rival Wake Forest to town. I can’t quite figure out the Demon Deacons, who are just 4-5, but are a perfect 3-0 away from home. Wake QB Hank Bachmeier is one of the ACC’s better gunslingers, so UNC could be in trouble. I think the Tar Heels, needing just one victory for bowl eligibility, pull this one out in a close, high-scoring game.

Matthew Beighle

Prediction: UNC 38, Wake Forest 27

Record: 5-4

The Demon Deacons are 4-5 this season and have dropped recent games to California, Virginia, and Clemson in the conference. They also beat NC State and Stanford. The only common opponent between the two was Virginia, and UNC dominated them on the road. The ground game is virtually non-existent for Wake Forest so it will be a battle of the secondary for UNC and Hank Bachmeier. Wake also has seven players averaging over 10 yards per reception. North Carolina has what it takes to get hot on the offensive side of the ball. However, Wake Forest does too as it ran up the score against Cal 46-36. If the defense can keep receivers in front, this could also be a blowout in favor of the Carolina blue. If not, it will be a shoot-out.

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UNC has chance to steal in-state 2025 wide receiver recruit with Saturday visit

Can UNC land a needed commitment from in-state wide receiver Jamien Little on Saturday?

The North Carolina Tar Heels are in great shape with their 2025 football recruiting class, already securing 12 commitments.

That UNC class is headlined by 4-star quarterback Bryce Baker, another in-state standout who plays at East Forsyth in Kernersville. North Carolina has another pair of 4-star commits in that same 2025 class: offensive tackle Alex Payne and defensive end Austin Alexander.

There’s one position the Tar Heels lack in their next recruiting class: wide receiver, with 3-star Evan Haynes the only one locked down.

UNC has a golden chance to add another wide receiver this coming weekend – a potential 13th commitment – as 3-star in-state wideout Jamien Little announced he’ll be attending the UNC-Wake Forest football game.

If you look at Little’s X and Instagram accounts, each listed below, he recently de-committed from Wake Forest. How sweet would it be if the Tar Heels stole Little from an in-state rival?

Little, arguably the focal point of Hickory High School’s offense, helped lead Hickory to its second State Championship in 2023. Little caught 70 passes for a whopping 1,372 yards and 20 touchdown, averaging 19.6 yards per catch and 85.8 yards per game.

Through 10 games in 2024, as the Tornadoes prepare for another 3A State Championship, Little already has 808 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Those churn out to 20.7 yards per catch and 80.8 yards per game.

 

North Carolina will be Little’s first scheduled visit since breaking away from the Demon Deacons, a good sign that Chapel Hill is high on Little’s list. Duke is also in strong consideration for Little, though according to his 247Sports recruiting profile, 12 other schools – including NC State – are in the mix.

With J.J. Jones and Nate McCollum currently in their final seasons as Tar Heels, a commitment from Little would go a long way to rounding out a young receiving corps.

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UNC star Omarion Hampton one of just 16 nominated for prestigious POTY Award

Omarion Hampton is one of the best players in college football. You’ll want to see which award list he recently landed on.

It’s no secret that Omarion Hampton is the centerpiece of the UNC football team’s offensive attack, particularly since it shifted to a run-first attack with Drake Maye’s NFL departure.

Hampton, the in-state junior from Clayton, is currently enjoying his second-consecutive 1,000-yard campaign. Hampton is riding a 7-game streak of 100-yard rushing attacks, including his second-career 200-yard performance against NC Central.

With how dominant of a back Hampton is, it shouldn’t surprise you that he’s in-line for yet another award.

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Hampton was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award. According to its official website, the Maxwell Award is annually “presented to the Outstanding Collegiate Player of the Year.

You’ll probably recognize several other names on the Maxwell Award Semifinalist list: Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, FBS rushing yardage leader Ashton Jeanty, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, Colorado stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, Miami (FL) Heisman Trophy contender Cam Ward, Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart, Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson, Texas QB Quinn Ewers, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke, Army QB Bryson Daly and Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo.

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Since taking over the starting role from British Brooks early in North Carolina’s 2023 campaign, Hampton has done nothing but showcase why he’s one of the country’s top backs. Hampton’s fresh off easily his best game in a Tar Heel uniform, in which he totaled 263 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns.

Hampton has 3,083 rushing yards and 34 rushing touchdowns in his UNC career. He continues climbing up North Carolina’s all-time yardage leaderboard – and will go down as arguably the program’s best back of the 21st century.

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Which UNC running back will redshirt remainder of 2024 season?

What is running back Caleb Hood’s future with the UNC football program?

The North Carolina Tar Heels have a thing for developing star running backs. Some might even call UNC “Running Back U” – all you have to do is look at the extensive list of 1,000-yard rushers.

Over the past two seasons, Omarion Hampton is the star in question. He’s continuing to climb up North Carolina’s record books – and is in the midst of his second-consecutive 1,000-yard campaign.

Because of Hampton’s immense talent, it’s difficult for other Tar Heel running backs to find playing time.

Such is the case in particular for Caleb Hood, the in-state senior from Rockingham, who UNC head coach Mack Brown said plans to redshirt the remainder of 2024.

Hood, initially recruited as a quarterback out of Richmond High School, only has 391 rushing yards through three-and-a-half seasons. Hood found limited success as a 4-game starter in 2022: 250 rushing yards, 119 receiving yards and one touchdown, but an injury shortened his season.

In just three games this year, Hood has one rushing yards and 29 receiving yards. Hampton is undoubtedly the clear top back, but the emergence of freshman Davion Gause has also pushed Hood down the depth chart. USC transfer Darwin Barlow is also in the mix, but like Hood, he’s finding a tough path to playing time.

I truly hope Hood decides to stay at North Carolina for the 2025 college football season, as the team will certainly need him. Hampton is likely heading to the NFL, while Barlow exhausts his eligibility, leaving Gause as the only other back with extensive game experience.

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Did bye week help or hurt the Tar Heels in USA Today’s latest re-rank?

The USA Today re-rank didn’t show any love to UNC in its Week 11 re-rank of all 134 FBS teams.

After enjoying their second bye week of the 2024 college football season, the North Carolina Tar Heels are preparing to host Wake Forest on Saturday, Nov. 15.

UNC (5-4, 2-3 ACC) comes out of its Week 11 bye in great shape. North Carolina is winners of its past two games: dominating Virginia by a 41-14 mark on October 26, then smacking Florida State by a 35-11 mark on Nov. 2.

The Tar Heels didn’t face those same fortunes entering their Week 8 bye, dealing with a fourth-straight loss to Georgia Tech.

Even though UNC didn’t play last weekend, its positioning slipped a bit in USA Today’s Week 11 re-rank of all 134 FBS team. North Carolina slipped three spots, going from 60th to 63rd.

As a result of their small drop, the Tar Heels found themselves sandwiched between West Virginia (62) and Rutgers (64). WVU lost to Iowa State by 12 at home, while Rutgers was destroyed in a 42-7 loss to Wisconsin.

I wouldn’t be too concerned with UNC’s fall, as there were plenty of marquee games over the weekend. We saw Ole Miss upset Georgia, Alabama smoke LSU in Baton Rouge and Indiana remain undefeated – after a close win against Michigan.

North Carolina was in the bottom half of USA Today’s re-rank earlier this year, but that quickly changed with blowout victory in each of North Carolina’s last two games. The Tar Heels will have an opportunity to climb the rankings further if they beat Wake Forest, though their in-state rivals are hungry to move one step closer to bowl eligibility.

UNC, on the other hand, only needs one victory to extend its bowl streak. Get ready for Saturday: it’s the first 2024 night game at Kenan Stadium.

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Start time announced for UNC’s final 2024 road football game

The UNC football season sure is winding down quick. North Carolina now knows its final road kickoff time.

You have every reason to be optimistic about how the North Carolina Tar Heels are playing football right now.

UNC (5-4, 2-3 ACC) has consecutive wins in its back pocket, dominating both Virginia and Florida State on the road. North Carolina broke its 4-game losing streak with a 41-14 thumping of the Cavaliers, then continued to play exceptional football when it overwhelmed the Seminoles, 35-11.

The Tar Heels next match up with Wake Forest on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. under the lights at Kenan Stadium, then ship up to Boston College on Nov. 23 for their road finale.

UNC just learned the start time for its clash with the Eagles (5-4, 2-3 ACC), as both teams will kick off at 12 p.m. ET next weekend.

North Carolina hasn’t played Boston College since 2020, when North Carolina won an extremely-close, 26-22 battle in the infamous COVID season. Sam Howell led the Tar Heel offense in that win, throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown.

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UNC and the Eagles are in very similar positions ahead of their Nov. 23 matchup, with a win by either squad possibly clinching bowl eligibility. That is, of course, if North Carolina doesn’t beat Wake Forest Saturday and Boston College loses at SMU.

Both programs are tied at 5-4 overall, 2-3 in the ACC and arguably better than their records show.

The Tar Heels started with three straight wins, lost four straight, then won their past two. The Eagles started unranked, briefly climbed into the AP Poll after victories at then-ranked FSU and against Duquesne, plus are now back in the win column after breaking a 3-game slide against Syracuse.

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Kenan Stadium honoring Tylee Craft for remainder of 2024 UNC football season

When you watch UNC’s last two home football games, you’ll notice a new decal on the 25-yard line.

After four straight weeks of suffering, the North Carolina Tar Heels are playing watchable football again.

UNC has dominated its past two opponents, Virginia and Florida State, outscoring them by a 75-25 margin. North Carolina’s offense played the best it has all year, headlined by a 5-touchdown day from Omarion Hampton against FSU, but the Tar Heels’ defense was the real difference-maker – with 17 combined sacks in their past two victories.

Before that, though, UNC truly looked like it wouldn’t win another game after losing to Georgia Tech. That wasn’t the worst part of that afternoon, though, as North Carolina lost wide receiver Tylee Craft to a long-term battle with cancer.

The Tar Heels may not phyiscally have Craft with them anymore, but they’re doing everything they can to honor his legacy.

That includes UNC’s final two homes games: Saturday, Nov. 16 against Wake Forest and Saturday, Nov. 30 against NC State, in which Kenan Stadium will have a “Tylee Strong 13” decal on the 25-yard line.

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The outpouring for Craft this season has already exceeded expectations. A different North Carolina player wears Craft’s jersey each week, starting with top wide receiver J.J. Jones during the Georgia Tech game. Virginia players donned Tylee Craft stickers on their helmets, then Florida State painted a “Tylee Strong 13” circle on the brick wall inside Doak Campbell Stadium.

With three more games to go in their current campaign, the Tar Heels can honor Craft in one more way: making their sixth-straight bowl game. UNC needs just one more victory, which is well within reach.

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Is the UNC football program playing in Week 11?

Is the UNC football program playing this week?

Will the North Carolina Tar Heels be on the field today in Week 11 of the 2024 college football season?

After a big 33-11 win over Florida State in ACC play on Nov. 2, the Tar Heels have a bye in Week 11 but will be back in action next Saturday, Nov. 16 when the Wake Forest Demon Deacons come to Chapel Hill.

The Demon Deacons are coming off a tough 46-36 home loss to Cal on Friday night, falling below .500 at 4-5 on the year. It was Cal’s first ACC victory ever.

Kickoff time and TV information for the Tar Heels and Demon Deacons is set for 8 p.m. ET on November 16th, airing on the ACC Network.

The Tar Heels have found their groove as of late, winning two-straight games and keeping their bowl hopes alive. They need one more win to be eligible for a bowl game.

 

North Carolina Tar Heels 2024 schedule

  • Aug. 29: at Minnesota (W, 19.17)Sept. 7: vs. Charlotte (W, 38-20)

    Sept. 14: vs. NC Central (W, 45-10)

    Sept. 21: vs. James Madison (L, 70-50)

    Sept. 28: at Duke (L, 21-20)

    Oct. 5: vs. Pitt (L, 34-24)

    Oct. 12: vs. Georgia Tech (L, 41-34)

    Oct. 26: at Virginia (W, 41-14)

    Nov. 2: at Florida State (W, 35-11)

    Nov. 16: vs. Wake Forest

    Nov. 23: at Boston College

    Nov. 30: vs. NC State

    Record: 5-4 (2-3 ACC)

 

Where does Jacolby Criswell stack up amongst fellow ACC quarterbacks?

Jacolby Criswell’s breakout season has him ranked amongst the ACC’s best quarterbacks.

If you’ve been watching college football all season long like us, you’ve likely noticed that quarterbacks are shaping their respective team’s success.

That’s particularly true in the ACC, where several quarterbacks have their teams on the edge of CFP contention.

Cam Ward is leading Miami (FL) with his Heisman Trophy campaign, while Kevin Jennings has ACC newcomer SMU undefeated in the conference. Tyler Shough just helped Louisville to a massive upset of Clemson, while Eli Holstein is near-unstoppable for Pitt.

There’s another top ACC quarterback that isn’t getting talked about enough: North Carolina Tar Heels gunslinger Jacolby Criswell, who was recently ranked Top-8 in the conference quarterback by ESPN CFB analyst Tom Luginbill.

For reference, there are 32 qualifying quarterbacks in the ACC – and 17 teams.

Criswell is a spot behind Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, two behind Holstein, three behind Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord (Syracuse), four behind NC State’s CJ Bailey, five behind Shough, six behind Jennings and seven behind Ward.

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For a guy who’s patiently waited his turn to start for UNC – four seasons as a backup, two transfers and two injuries later – Criswell is thriving.

Criswell has 1,871 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns to just three interceptions, 172 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Criswell threw for nearly 500 yards against James Madison, then was lucky to play turnover-free football throughout October.

I saw Criswell primarily as a pocket passer earlier in the season, but he’s grown in the past few weeks, using his legs to extend plays and pick up major first downs. That’s a characteristic that NFL scouts look for, as so much of the professional game today focuses on mobile quarterbacks.

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UNC defensive line duo amongst college football’s best Week 10 edge rushers

Kaimon Rucker and Beau Atkinson give UNC not one, but two, imposing pass rushers for opposing defenses to deal with.

When you talk about the best defensive lineman in college football for over the past two weeks, look no further than the North Carolina Tar Heels.

UNC generated 10 sacks in a 41-14 road blowout of Virginia, led by three from star edge rusher Kaimon Rucker. Reserve lineman Beau Atkinson added two, while Antavious Lane, Amare Campbell, Alijah Huzzie, Jahvaree Ritzie and Des Evans all added one each

In a 35-11 road stomping of Florida State on Saturday, North Carolina tacked on seven more sacks – led again by Atkinson and Rucker. Atkinson generated a game-high 3.5, while Rucker added one.

Particularly for their performance in the FSU game, Atkinson and Rucker were two of the country’s highest-graded edge rushers.

PFF College graded Rucker at 88.8, while it gave Atkinson a grade of 83.6.

Rucker was fourth amongst Power Four edge rushers, behind Stanford’s David Bailey (90.9), South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart (89.8) and NC State’s Devin Vann (89.8).

Atkinson landed sixth amongst Power Four edge rushers – behind Kentucky‘s Tre’Vonn Rybka, but ahead of Indiana’s Mikail Kamara and Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmeilen.

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There was some offseason concern Rucker might elect for the NFL Draft, but his return bolstered a unit that severely underperformed for the Tar Heels in 2023. Rucker missed time earlier this season while recovering from an injury, but he’s shined since fully healthy, notching 17 tackles, four sacks and an interception.

Atkinson, a sophomore from Raleigh, increasingly looks like the future leader of UNC’s defensive line. Atkinson recorded 3.5 sacks in 2023 – and already surpassed that total in two 2024 games.

If North Carolina wants to continue its recent hot streak, more big games from its D-line duo are a crucial key.

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