Jordan Shipp finally got the kind of day star receivers are supposed to have.
Against Notre Dame on Saturday, the UNC wideout posted the first 100-yard receiving game of his college career, finishing with seven catches for 109 yards. It was a long-awaited breakthrough in a Tar Heel uniform, and it came with Shipp taking center stage early against the No. 3 Fighting Irish.
North Carolina made a point of getting him involved right away after the collapse against Clemson, and Bobby Petrino’s offense delivered on that front. Shipp helped set the tone on the opening drive with two major grabs, including a one-handed catch over Leonard Moore, a projected future first-round NFL Draft pick. He then added a 44-yard reception as UNC jumped out first.
Shipp was targeted seven times and came down with every one of them, turning every look his way into a completion. Most of the damage came on that first drive, but he still remained part of the offense throughout the afternoon and left a clear imprint on the game.
His production also helped create room for others. Tight ends Shamar Easter and Jelani Thurman both found the end zone in the loss, with Shipp’s early success helping open things up elsewhere.
The takeaway from Saturday was simple: UNC needs more of this version of Shipp. He has shown he can make plays whenever the ball finds him, and there’s a strong case for getting him touches far more often. He does not need every snap funneled his way, but the Tar Heels would be wise to keep him heavily involved, with 10-15 touches a game as the target.
Now the question is whether this was the start of more. After finally clearing the 100-yard mark, Shipp has put a new benchmark on tape, and UNC could use plenty more afternoons like this one.
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UNC Has A Bigger Problem Than Just Losing To Notre Dame
Jordan Shipp gave North Carolina a reason to keep watching, and Billy Edwards Jr. found ways to keep the offense moving, but the larger picture from the Notre Dame game was hard to ignore. The Tar Heels showed a few flashes from key players, and Jordan Faisons work stood out on the other side, yet the game kept circling back to the same concerns that have shadowed UNC for stretches this season.
The rushing attack never found much traction, which put even more weight on the passing game, and the defense had its own trouble handling the Irish. For a team trying to sort out what it really is, the loss looked less like one bad afternoon than another reminder that the issues run deeper than the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Just Made Miamis Poll Rise Even Harder To Ignore
Miamis rise in the polls got another push after a convincing win over Clemson, while Notre Dame also climbed following its 37-26 victory over North Carolina. For a Tar Heels team trying to keep pace in a difficult stretch, the loss to the Fighting Irish fit into a larger picture of how much every result is being magnified in the rankings race.
The updated AP Top 25 and AFCA Coaches Polls reflect that ripple effect, with both Miami and Notre Dame picking up points as the seasons weekly pressure keeps building. Their upcoming games and strength of schedule figures only add another layer to the conversation, because for North Carolina and the rest of the ACC, every matchup now carries the kind of weight that can reshape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Billy Edwards Jr. Is Putting UNC In A Tough Spot
Billy Edwards Jr. gave North Carolina enough to keep things moving against Notre Dame, but not enough to steady the offense. He finished 17 of 28 for 208 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, a line that captured both the promise and the frustration around his play as the Tar Heels fell 37-26.
The turnovers were costly, and they also underscored a bigger issue for UNC: the passing game has not found the consistency it needs with Edwards at the controls. With the next week looming, he is already under pressure to clean things up and protect his role as the starter. [Read more 🡒]