North Carolina badly needed a reset in Week 10, and it got one with a 38-21 win that snapped a two-game skid and kept the Tar Heels from slipping below .500 for the first time this season. The start was shaky, especially on offense, but the finish gave UNC something it had been missing lately: control.
A big part of that came from the backfield, where Omarion Hampton looked much more like himself. After leaving early against Duke a couple of weeks ago and managing only three carries in Week 9 against Miami, the former Michigan transfer was back in his usual spot at the top of the rotation.
He didn’t need a heavy workload to make an impact, finishing with nine carries for 81 yards and a touchdown. Jaylen McGill opened the game, but Hall quickly moved ahead of him and Demon June, and it looks like the staff is ready to ramp him back up after easing him in from injury.
On the defensive side, Amare Campbell Seelmann kept climbing. His stock was already high, and Saturday only pushed it higher.
The Richmond transfer was everywhere, piling up nine total tackles, including six solo stops, along with two tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two sacks. The junior linebacker has made an immediate impression and has already established himself as one of North Carolina’s best transfer portal additions.
Abou Jaoude also gave UNC a needed lift after a quiet stretch. The veteran pass rusher had been largely absent for several weeks while dealing with a hand/wrist injury suffered in the season opener, but he finally showed signs of life against UConn.
He finished with three solo tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack. It’s not the kind of line that jumps off the page, but it was a step forward for the senior edge rusher.
McGill, meanwhile, didn’t do much with his chance. As noted, he got the first snaps in the backfield, but that didn’t last long.
He finished with seven carries for 15 yards and added three catches for 18 yards, giving him 10 touches for just 33 yards after starting the game. That’s not the kind of production UNC can live with from that spot.
There were also quieter days for a couple of defenders whose roles have been slipping. Khmori House’s snap count has gone up and down over the past few weeks, and his output has followed suit.
The Penn State transfer had only two tackles against UConn, and that was the full extent of his impact. North Carolina needs more from him if the defense is going to hit its ceiling.
Then there’s Tayon Holloway Lewis, who opened the season on a tear but has cooled off lately. After posting four total tackles against Miami, the star defensive tackle didn’t record a single stat against UConn. That kind of drop-off stands out after the blistering start he put together earlier in the year.
In Other News...
Bill Belichick's UNC Future Just Got More Uncertain
Bill Belichicks second season at North Carolina has brought a clearer on-field picture, even if the bigger off-field one remains murkier. The Tar Heels are 5-4 and have shown improvement from last year, but the program has also spent this stretch dealing with the fallout from an investigation that prompted the resignations of general manager Michael Lombardi and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick.
For now, there has been no discussion between Belichick and the university about changing his current contract or mapping out his future with the team. That leaves UNC in a familiar holding pattern for a program trying to build momentum while still sorting through the aftereffects of a turbulent stretch behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Could Land One More Recruit That Changes This Class
North Carolina already has a headliner in its 2027 class with five-star small forward DeMarcus Henry on board, but the Tar Heels may not be done shaping the group just yet. As the open signing period approaches, the staff still has a chance to add another elite piece, and the focus has turned to five-star forward C.J. Rosser, one of the most closely watched names still sorting through his options.
Rosser is weighing North Carolina against Kentucky, and there has been no confirmed decision yet, which keeps the door open for the Tar Heels to land a second major prize in the class. For a program that has already secured one five-star commitment, the next move could go a long way toward defining how this group is viewed once the signing period gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Faces A Pace Battle That Could Decide Its Best Win Chance
The tempo question looms over UNCs trip to Louisville, where the Tar Heels are trying to match up with one of the ACCs more explosive offenses. Louisville has been especially dangerous on first downs, which makes every possession feel a little more urgent for a UNC defense that has to do a better job of limiting big plays and getting off the field before drives turn into quick-strike points.
On the other side, UNCs best path is to keep its own offense efficient enough to help control the rhythm of the game and prevent Louisville from dictating pace. With the season nearing its final stretch, both teams have plenty riding on the result, and the matchup may come down to which side can force the other into playing its preferred style for four quarters. [Read more 🡒]