The last time the Tar Heels won an ACC football championship was 1980 before there was a championship game…. These are two Top 10 ranked teams with a lopsided recent history not favoring UNC. The Tar Heels climbed to No. 8, while Clemson remained at No. 1, where it has been for the last month.
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With a loss, UNC, No. 10 in the CFP rankings, would likely drop out of the pool for what are called the “New Year’s 6” bowls.
Northern Illinois (8-5) was making its sixth straight appearance in the title game, but the Huskies fell behind 28-0 early in the third quarter.
“I most definitely do”, the fourth-year Tar Heels coach said Friday during a news conference.
Carolina will need a strong defensive effort against a brilliant Tiger offense.
Paige showed little hesitancy in his first game back from a broken bone in his right hand and led North Carolina to an 89-81 win over No. 2 Maryland on Tuesday. The Tar Heels are going to lose some key seniors – like Marquise Williams, Quinshad Davis, Jeff Schoettmer, to name a few – from the 2015 team while Miami and Virginia Tech just made grade-A hires in Mark Richt and Justin Fuente, respectively and Virginia got the always-intense Bronco Mendenhall.
A win against the Tigers would elevate UNC’s status in the College Football Playoff conversation (they’re ranked 10th this week), but nobody expects that to happen, as Clemson is a big favorite to gain their 13th victory of the season. Slowing down the quarterback is job No. 1 for both defenses.
The number that has to really scare Carolina on defense, though, is their average against the rush. North Carolina came close under Mack Brown in 1997, going 11-1, but that “1” came against Florida State in the Seminoles’ heyday under Bobby Bowden. The secondary has been tremendous allowing just 186.7 passing yards per game, good for 18th nationally. Jack Gibbs leads the Wildcats averaging 26 points per game.
Here are five takeaways from Maryland’s first game against a ranked opponent. What unique challenges will Clemson’s defense bring that they haven’t faced to this point?
Carolina and Clemson met every year from 1957-2003, but have met just four times since.
10 North Carolina, paying the price for a weak schedule, has the most ground to cover.
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Green was also called for a personal foul for grabbing the facemask of North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams in the opening quarter. He didn’t play the position often this season, but he has three carries for eight yards and a touchdown. The versatile Williams has even caught three TD passes.
