North Carolina vs. Charlotte
Saturday, September 7, 2024
3:30 p.m. ET | ACC Network
Kenan Memorial Stadium | Chapel Hill, NC

North Carolina (1-0, 0-0 ACC)

Head coach: Mack Brown

Entry at UNC: 108-73-1
Career record: 283-149-1

Charlotte 49ers (0-1, 0-0 AAC)

Head Coach: Biff Poggi
Record in Charlotte: 3-10
Career record: 3-10

Television: ACC Network

Match report: Jorge Sedano
Analyst: Orlando Franklin
Side job: Morgan Uber

Radio – Tar Heel Sports Network

Local: WCHL-FM 97.9 (Chapel Hill) | WCHL-AM 1360 (Chapel Hill)
Sirius/XM: 108 or 205
Play by play: Jones Angell
Analysts: Bryn Renner and Joe Jauch
Side job: Lee Pace
Pre-game show: Dave Nathan and Na’ Brown

Series history

All-time series record: First meeting
Last meeting: —

A victory would…

» Carolina earned its seventh consecutive win in home openers.
» Be the Tar Heels’ first win over Charlotte…in the first meeting between the two teams.
» Help UNC start the year 2-0 for the third consecutive year.
» Have fun going out.

Success in the second stint

At the start of the 2024 season, Carolina was second in the ACC in both total and conference wins, as Mack BrownReturning to Chapel Hill, Clemson led both categories with 54 total wins and 34 ACC wins, while UNC and NC State tied for second with 38 total wins and 24 conference wins.

First game against Charlotte

The Tar Heels and 49ers have never met on the field since Charlotte added football to the team in 2012. The 49ers played their first game in 2013, had their first winning season in 2019, and played in their first bowl game in December 2019.

Ritzie cleans up

Defensive attack Jahvaree Ritzie was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week and Outland Trophy National Player of the Week following the win over Minnesota. He totaled three sacks in the win, the most in a game by a Tar Heel since 2019.

Burrrrrr-nette

Placekicker Noah Burnette had ice in his veins and converted all four of his field goals in the opening game. He made a career-best 52-yarder and was good from 45 yards out to win the game with 1:44 left. For his performance, he was named ACC Specialist of the Week and Lou Groza Award Star of the Week.

My “O” My

Omarion Hampton ranked near the top of the national charts in nearly every rushing stat in 2023, but led the country in one important category. Of his 1,504 rushing yards, 1,072 came after contact, according to PFF. In addition to his rushing yards, Hampton was one of two running backs in the country to rush for over 1,500 yards and score 15 touchdowns. Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon was the other. In the 2024 opener, Hampton totaled 129 yards on the ground.



Thirty threshold
The Tar Heels are 71-8 under Mack Brown if they score 30 or more points and 47-1 if they score 40 or more points, but they only needed 19 to beat Minnesota.



Nine Tar Heels on the Preseason Award Watch Lists

Noah Burnette, John Copenhaver, Power Echols, Omarion Hampton, Alijah Huzzie, Willie Lampkin, Bryson Nesbit, Kobe Paysour And Kaimon Rucker each of them received a preseason watch list award.


»Noah Burnette

• Lou Groza Award Watchlist

»John Copenhaver

• Mackey Award Watchlist

»Power Echols

• Bednarik Award Watchlist
• Butkus Award Watchlist

»Omarion Hampton

• Maxwell Award Watchlist
• Walter Camp Player of the Year
• Doak Walker Award Watchlist
• Sports News – Preseason All-America First Team -AP Preseason All-America First Team
• Preseason All-ACC

»Alijah Huzzie

• Watchlist for the Paul Hornung Award

»Willie Lampkin

»Bryson Nesbit

• John Mackey Award Watchlist

»Kobe Paysour

• CSC Comeback Player of the Year

»Jahvaree Ritzie

• Outland Trophy Watchlist

»Kaimon Rucker

• Watchlist for the Bronko Nagurski Award
• Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watchlist
• Bednarik Award Watchlist

Key figures

5-1 – Carolina has played five power conference opponents in its last six season openers since Coach Brown returned, posting a 5-1 record.



15 – The Tar Heels defense allowed just 15 yards rushing in the second half against Minnesota and just 78 in the entire game.



5 – North Carolina’s defense forced five three-and-outs on Minnesota’s 10 offensive plays in the season opener.



10 – Jake Harris In the away win in Minnesota, he recorded 10 tackles, the highest number of his career.



19 – UNC’s 19 points in the opening game were the fewest in a win since the 18-14 victory over Miami in 2012.