North Carolina walked into Saturday with a chance to let the season wobble again, and instead the Tar Heels answered with a 38-21 win over UConn that looked a lot more like the team they wanted to be. After the back-to-back heartbreaks against Syracuse and Miami, this could have been the kind of trip that drags a group down for good.
For a while, it even had that feel. But the defense settled things, the offense found its rhythm again, and Carolina is now one win away from bowl eligibility with three games left.
The early part of the game didn’t exactly scream blowout. The Tar Heels were sluggish out of the gate, and it took until the second quarter before they finally got on the board.
That changed in a hurry once Tamir Hickman-Collins jumped in front of a pass and took it back for a pick six. That play gave Carolina the spark it needed after an offense that had been stuck in neutral.
From there, the Tar Heels started to separate.
Jelani Thurman was once again the centerpiece. The Ohio State transfer hauled in seven passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns, leading the team in catches and scoring.
He’s become enough of a target that defenses are clearly adjusting for him, but he still keeps finding ways to get open and make plays. After last weekend, this was another strong showing on a stage where the John Mackey Award committee should have taken notice.
Benjamin Hall also made his return count. He led all rushers with 81 yards and broke loose for a 39-yard touchdown run on third and nine.
UConn looked locked in on the pass and didn’t seem ready for Carolina to go deep enough to make that a two-down situation, which opened the door for Hall to punish them. He’s healthy again, and that matters for the stretch run.
Hickman-Collins deserves his own spotlight for more than just the score. He had not put up many numbers this season, though he did post six tackles in the win over Pittsburgh. This was the kind of moment that can define a player’s year, and it swung the game’s momentum at exactly the right time.
There were a few clear losers on the Carolina side, too. Jaylen McGill didn’t do much with his chances, finishing with 16 yards on seven carries and 18 more as a receiver. With Demon June carving out a solid role and adding 60 yards on Saturday, McGill may find himself watching more from the sideline unless he can rebound quickly.
Rece Verhoff also had a rough day. Carolina brought him in because it needed to trust a kicker from outside 40 yards, so missing one of his first long-range tries of the season from 49 yards is not the kind of thing that builds confidence. Whether the weather played a role or not, the Tar Heels are going to need him sooner or later with the schedule tightening up.
Melkart Abou Jaoude remains a frustrating case. He was supposed to be a major difference-maker for the defense, but the hand injury he suffered against TCU has kept him from fully delivering on that promise.
Against UConn, he finished with three solo tackles and a sack, but the production still hasn’t matched the expectations. Unless he turns things around fast, the season may end with more questions than answers about what could have been.
There were also several honorable mentions worth noting. Demon June continued to give Carolina useful production with 91 all-purpose yards, including a 23-yard catch.
Billy Edwards, Jr. didn’t have the same kind of eye-catching day he had last week, and he threw another interception, but he also threw three touchdown passes and totaled 255 yards, which kept him from slipping back into a rough outing. Peyton Seelmann kept stuffing the stat sheet as well, finishing with two sacks, six solo tackles, nine total tackles, and three pass breakups.
For a North Carolina kid who started his college career at the FCS level, he looks like a strong find.
Now the focus shifts to Louisville, which comes to Kenan Stadium for Homecoming under the lights. The Cardinals were carrying ACC Championship hopes before losses to NC State and Wake Forest knocked them off track, but their offense still has plenty of punch. For a Carolina defense that has given up a lot of points over the last couple of weeks, this one will not be simple.
In Other News...
UNCs UConn Snap Counts Revealed A Few Clear Rotation Shifts
North Carolinas 38-21 win over UConn did more than move the Tar Heels to 5-4 and closer to bowl eligibility. It also offered a clearer look at how the rotation is settling in on both sides of the ball, with several offensive and defensive pieces seeing their roles shaped by what happened in Week 10.
Among the players drawing attention were Kekahuna, Jordan Shipp, Jelani Thurman and linebacker Seelmann, all of whom stood out in the snap-count review for different reasons. The numbers also pointed to a few transfers and freshmen who had limited impact or playing time, a reminder that the depth chart is still very much being sorted out as North Carolina heads into the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Belichick May Be Getting A New In-State Rival Tar Heels Fans Know Well
NC State is moving toward a hire that would instantly add another familiar name to the in-state rivalry, with Philip Rivers expected to become the Wolfpacks next head football coach pending approval from the universitys trustees. Rivers, an NC State alum and former NFL quarterback, has been coaching at the high school level since 2021, and his return to Raleigh would bring a jolt of recognition to a rivalry that already carries plenty of weight for Tar Heels fans.
Bill Belichick has seen Rivers up close before, meeting him multiple times in the NFL, and the North Carolina coach has already weighed in on the longtime quarterbacks competitiveness. For UNC, the potential move would add another layer to a matchup that is never short on emotion, especially if Rivers makes the leap from the high school sideline to the college ranks in a place where he already means something to the fan base. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Cannot Let Undefeated Wyoming Turn This Into A Home Letdown
UNC is getting a chance to steady itself at home against an undefeated Wyoming team that has already shown it can make life difficult on the offensive end. For the Tar Heels, the assignment is straightforward in theory and tricky in practice: establish control early, avoid letting the crowd and the opponent feed off one another, and make sure the game never settles into the kind of rhythm an unbeaten visitor wants.
Maxi Adams is one name worth watching if UNC is looking for a spark, but the larger challenge sits on the defensive end. Wyoming has built its start on a high-scoring attack, a strong free throw rate and work on the offensive glass, so the Tar Heels will need to keep bodies on rebounds and cut off easy trips to the line if they want to protect their home floor. [Read more 🡒]