Carolina football has landed in a strange spot.
UNC sits tied for fourth in the ACC with Clemson, and there are four other teams in the league with just one conference loss. If the Tar Heels handle Syracuse and Clemson falls to Virginia Tech, UNC would move into sole possession of fourth and could technically be in the mix for the ACC championship game.
How likely is that? No one really knows, because hardly anyone saw this coming before the season.
For fans inclined to squint at the standings and dream a little, the weird part isn’t that UNC is good - it’s that the Tar Heels are suddenly in a stretch where so many of the ACC’s supposed hurdles look manageable. Louisville, Virginia, and NC State have not exactly looked sharp lately, and this home game against Syracuse is one the Heels should be able to win. At the same time, there’s little reason to expect UNC to knock off Miami, but the bigger point is this: if the teams around the Tar Heels also stumble and finish with two conference losses, things could get very interesting for a team that wasn’t supposed to be here.
Of course, none of that matters if UNC slips tonight. The Heels are 9.5-point favorites against Syracuse, and that’s where the focus stays for now.
They can put themselves in a better spot with a win, or they can give the doubters another opening. If that happens, the pessimists will be back online fast, ready to resume cooking Bill Belichick into oblivion.
In Other News...
UNC Landed A Guard Whose Road To Chapel Hill Suddenly Changed
Kevin Thomas arrived at North Carolina with a path that changed quickly, even by recruiting standards. The four-star guard had originally pledged to LSU, but once the Tigers fired Matt McMahon and brought in Will Wade, he asked for a release and reset his plans. UNC emerged as the destination, giving Thomas a fresh start in Chapel Hill and placing him in a program that now has him under Michael Malones staff while also putting him back alongside former high school teammate Matt Able.
For a newcomer still settling into college basketball, the first glimpse of Thomas in a Tar Heels uniform came in an exhibition setting, where he logged four minutes and showed the kind of defensive activity that can earn a young guard more chances. It was only a small opening, but it offered UNC a preview of a player whose road to Chapel Hill took an unexpected turn and whose next steps will be watched closely as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Left Frustrated After Costly Home Loss To ACC Rival
North Carolinas field hockey team had plenty of offense in a 4-3 home loss to Wake Forest at Karen Shelton Stadium, but it was not enough to keep pace in an ACC matchup that turned into a track meet. Ryleigh Heck scored twice for the Tar Heels, and Coco Courtright added another, giving Carolina enough punch to stay in it throughout the afternoon.
Mia Schoenbecks hat trick powered Wake Forest, and the result left North Carolina with little time to dwell on a frustrating setback on its home turf. The Tar Heels now turn their attention to Appalachian State, looking to reset quickly after a game that came down to which side could finish its chances. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Front Line Just Sent An Encouraging Message In Homecoming Win
North Carolinas front line gave the Tar Heels plenty to feel good about in a homecoming win over California, one that ended with a 3-1 set score and a noticeable lift from several key contributors. Laynie Smith powered her way to a career-best 14 kills, while Addison West added a career-high 12, giving the No. 23 Tar Heels the kind of balanced attack that can carry them as the season moves forward.
Mike Schall and his players pointed to the performance as a sign of progress, especially with several individuals stepping into bigger roles on the home floor. For a team looking to build momentum, the encouraging part is not just the result against California, but the way North Carolinas front line answered the moment and left room for even more as the schedule continues. [Read more 🡒]