No. 1 North Carolina heads back on the road Thursday night for an ACC matchup at Clemson, aiming to keep its run rolling when the Tar Heels and Tigers meet at 8 p.m. at Historic Riggs Field. The game will be streamed on ACC Network.
It will be Carolina’s first trip to Clemson, S.C. in eight seasons. The Tar Heels last played there in 2018 and came away with a 1-0 win. Overall, UNC owns a 37-1-1 edge in the series, with Clemson’s lone win and tie both coming on its home field.
The Tar Heels arrive in strong form, riding an eight-game winning streak built on a high-scoring attack and a defense that keeps squeezing opponents out of space. Bella Devey has been the biggest driver up front, leading the ACC and tying for second in the NCAA with 14 goals. Behind her, Carolina’s back line has stayed locked in, producing seven shutouts while allowing just .67 goals per game.
Road results have been just as convincing. UNC is 4-0 away from home this season and has outscored opponents 8-2 in those matches. Two of those wins came via shutout.
Carolina also sits alone at the top of the ACC standings at 4-0 with 12 points in league play. The Tar Heels lead the conference with 43 goals, 114 points and a 3.58 goals-per-game average, and they’re coming off their third ranked win of the season after beating No. 12 Notre Dame.
The national recognition has followed. Carolina checked in at No. 1 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, giving the program a No. 1 ranking for the 38th season.
The numbers across the roster keep backing up the rankings. The Tar Heels have outscored opponents 43-8 this season.
Summer Denigan and Bella Devey were named to the MAC Hermann Mid-Season Watch List. Devey has also collected ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors three times this year and was named to the Preseason All-ACC Team.
On the defensive side, Cali O'Neill earned her first career weekly award on Oct. 6 after being named ACC Defensive Player of the Week. Lilliah Blum also made her mark against Duke with her first career brace, giving her five goals on the season.
Blum picked up ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors and was selected to the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week on Sept. 22.
Blum and Amari Manning share the team lead with five assists apiece. Peyton Trayer has handled the goalkeeping load with nine wins and 13 saves while posting seven shutouts.
Carolina’s preseason respect was spread across the roster. Five Tar Heels landed in the Preseason TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Rankings: Summer Denigan at No.
4, Izzi Stratton at No. 24, Bella Gaetino at No.
35, Bella Devey at No. 68 and Hope Munson at No. 77.
Three more were included on the Preseason TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Teams, with Denigan on the First Team, Stratton on the Third Team and O'Neill on the Freshman Team.
Denigan and Stratton also appeared on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, while UNC was picked fifth in the ACC Preseason Poll.
The Tar Heels will also have national-team recognition in the mix, with Aven Alvarez, Hope Munson and Sealey Strawn named to the U-20 WNT roster for the 2026 U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup. The trio helped the United States advance to the round of 16 at the tournament.
In Other News...
Billy Edwards Jr. Still Left UNC With One Big Offensive Concern
North Carolina got back in the win column with a 21-17 victory over Pittsburgh, snapping a two-game skid and giving the Tar Heels a much-needed reset. Billy Edwards Jr. was central to it, completing 18 of 26 passes for 249 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, a line that reflected both the upside and the unevenness that has followed him at times this season.
Edwards connected with Jordan Shipp and Easter to help keep the offense moving, but the larger concern lingered in how often UNC seemed willing to play it safe. His reluctance to consistently challenge defenses vertically left the Tar Heels with some unanswered questions even in a win, and the two interceptions only added to the sense that the passing game still has another level to find. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Suddenly Has A Depth Story Fans Can Believe In
A handful of injuries against Pitt could have unraveled North Carolinas night, but instead they exposed something the Tar Heels have been waiting to see all season: actual depth. With several starters forced out, backups and freshmen were pushed into larger roles, and the game became a real-time test of how ready the next wave of players could be. It also fit neatly with Bill Belichicks long-standing emphasis on preparation and being ready when opportunity arrives.
North Carolina still walked away with a 21-17 win over a ranked opponent, and the most encouraging part was how many less experienced players were able to help steady it. Some of those contributors had limited practice reps before being thrown into meaningful snaps, yet they managed to make the kind of plays that kept the Tar Heels afloat when the game tightened. For a program that has spent plenty of time wondering what happens if the starters get thin, this was the kind of night that made the answer a little easier to believe. [Read more 🡒]
Belichicks UNC Offense Still Has One Problem Fans Cant Ignore
North Carolina got back in the win column after back-to-back losses, but the offensive performance still left plenty for Bill Belichick to sort through. The Tar Heels have had trouble creating explosive plays, and the ground game has not given the offense the kind of balance it needs. Even with the win, the overall picture was familiar enough to raise fresh questions about how much ceiling this unit has right now.
Belichick pointed to the issues directly, including Billy Edwards Jr.s interceptions and the ineffective rushing attack that keeps putting extra pressure on the passing game. The tight end group has been one of the brighter spots, but even that strength is being held in check without a more reliable run threat. For a team trying to build momentum, the offense still has one glaring problem it has not really solved. [Read more 🡒]