North Carolina comes out of its second bye week and straight into one of the biggest challenges on its schedule: a home date with No. 3 Notre Dame. For the Tar Heels, the margin for error is thin, and the game may come down to a few specific areas that decide whether this stays competitive deep into the second half.
The biggest question starts at quarterback. Billy Edwards Jr. is coming off a rough outing against Clemson, where he closed the game with an interception and finished with 135 yards, a season low.
He completed just 43.3% of his passes in that one, added a touchdown to Benjamin Hall, and was sacked three times. Belichick said the team is staying with Edwards as the starter, so the pressure now shifts to Edwards to prove that confidence is still justified.
Another matchup worth watching is Xavier Lewis against Notre Dame’s offensive line. Lewis has been one of the few steady positives for UNC this season, averaging two sacks per game for the Tar Heels defensive front. This week figures to be a much stiffer test, and it may tell a lot about what kind of player Lewis really is - a future pro, and maybe a portal steal for somebody else, or simply a good player who has benefited from weaker competition so far.
There is also the kicking game, where Rece Verhoff could immediately matter if the NCAA does not get its stay before Saturday. If he is cleared, the fifth-year player would make his season debut against the Irish.
Given how North Carolina’s field goal kicking has looked, Verhoff would at least give the Tar Heels a better chance to turn drives into points without needing to reach the 20-yard line. Whether that turns into a real difference depends on whether the offense and defense can keep the game close enough for those extra points to matter.
Even without the Clemson collapse, this was always going to be a steep climb for UNC. The Tar Heels’ best path is a low-scoring game, a turnover or two, and a shot at a massive upset.
In Other News...
Belichick Makes Clear What Matters Now For UNC Football
Bill Belichick said the North Carolina football programs focus right now is less about the noise around it and more about getting the operation where it needs to be. With the Tar Heels navigating investigations and personnel changes, he framed the moment as one centered on doing things the right way and addressing the areas flagged by outside counsel.
Belichick also made clear how limited his role has been in the process, saying he was only involved in answering some questions while the legal details were handled by lawyers. For North Carolina, the message was less about the headlines themselves than the work still ahead, and what the program chooses to do next in response to them. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Is Giving Tar Heel Legends A Permanent Place In Kenan
Kenan Stadium is about to get a little more reflective, with North Carolina set to unveil two permanent Hall of Fame displays during the game against Notre Dame. The new honors will recognize 12 Tar Heel legends who made their mark in the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, giving UNC a more permanent way to showcase some of the biggest names in program history.
The College Football Hall of Fame display will go in the northeast corner of the stadium, while the Pro Football Hall of Famers will be featured in the southeast corner. UNC has also invited the Hall of Famers and their families for a weekend celebration that will include on-field recognition and a formal dedication during the game, turning what is already a marquee matchup into a chance to connect the current program with the standard set by its greats. [Read more 🡒]
Former Tar Heels Reunite On A Sideline UNC Fans Will Want To Follow
A familiar Carolina connection is making its way back onto a sideline worth watching. King Rice, now the head coach at Monmouth, has hired Shammond Williams as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 season and beyond, bringing together two former Tar Heels whose paths have now crossed again in the coaching ranks.
Williams arrives with a long rsum that should make him an intriguing addition anywhere, including more than 20 years of professional playing experience and 13 years in college coaching. His recent stops include Denver and Old Dominion, and Rice has made no secret of his excitement about adding a former teammate to the staff, a reunion UNC fans will naturally keep an eye on even from a distance. [Read more 🡒]