North Carolina walked into Saturday with a chance to keep the momentum rolling, but Clemson ripped that script apart in the second half and left the Tar Heels with a 28-20 loss after UNC had led 17-6 at the break.
The final score tells the story, but the last 30 minutes made it even starker. North Carolina managed only three second-half points, and the offense helped hand Clemson the opening it needed. Billy Edwards threw the game-ending interception, and Demon June’s fumble gave Clemson a short field that turned into yet another Tigers field goal.
There wasn’t much to salvage from the passing game after that, so the clearest offensive takeaway came on the ground. Benjamin Hall put together the best rushing performance UNC has had this season and finished with 145 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
It was the kind of workload that finally put him in control of the lead-back job, and he was easily North Carolina’s brightest spot on offense. For a coach like Bill Belichick, that kind of runner matters - someone who can help set the tone and move the chains in a way the Tar Heels haven’t consistently done through the first two games.
The defense also had a rough afternoon, even if there were a few flashes worth noting. Clemson came in averaging 16 points per game and still put up 21 after halftime alone.
The Tigers, who had been averaging less than three yards per carry on the ground, found enough room to keep drives alive. And a freshman quarterback making his first start ended up throwing for more yards in one game than he had in his previous two combined.
Still, the Tar Heels did create a few moments. Xavier Lewis added two more sacks, pushing his season total to six.
That leads the ACC and ties LSU’s Princewell Umanmielen for the national lead. UNC also snagged an interception to open the second half and held Clemson to just nine points on its first three trips into scoring range, including two possessions that reached the UNC 5.
Special teams, though, came back around to haunt North Carolina. Aeron Burrell continued to struggle as a place kicker, going 0-for-3 on kicks beyond 40 yards this season.
In a game that tight, his missed field goal late in the first quarter mattered. He did connect on a field goal longer than 30 yards for the first time in his career, with his new long set at 33, and Rece Veerhoff was just deemed eligible, which could allow Burrell to return to punting and kickoff duties as soon as the next game.
In the end, there wasn’t much room to spin it. North Carolina had a game it should have won and let it slip away. The Tar Heels now have two weeks before Notre Dame comes to town on October 3rd.
In Other News...
Tar Heels Open ACC Play With A Road Win Fans Will Notice
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UNCs Bye Week Just Made Its Quarterback Decision Feel Urgent
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Miles O'Neill, the Texas A&M transfer, is now part of a decision that feels more immediate than it did a week ago. The staff has to weigh whether continuity gives UNC the best chance to steady itself or whether a change at quarterback could provide the spark it needs heading into the next stretch of games, and the uncertainty alone has made the bye week feel anything but quiet. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Malone May Have Revealed Isaiah Denis UNC Role
Michael Malone has already offered a small glimpse into how Isaiah Denis might fit with North Carolina this season, and it starts with a nickname. The Tar Heels coach has been calling the sophomore guard Bones, a nod to former Denver Nuggets guard Bones Hyland, while also using Denis at point guard in practice. For a player whose freshman year was slowed by injury, that is a meaningful sign of trust and a reminder that the staff sees more than just another guard in the rotation.
The point-guard work matters because it hints at a larger backcourt role, one that could let Denis operate as a versatile perimeter threat rather than a one-position option. If the comparison to Hyland is any indication, North Carolina may be preparing to lean on Denis for shot-making, pace and creativity as he gets healthier and settles in. The exact shape of that role is still unfolding, but the early usage suggests the Tar Heels have a clear plan in mind. [Read more 🡒]