Carolina Set For Wasabi Fenway Bowl Versus UConn

The Matchup
North Carolina vs. UConn
Saturday, December 28, 2024
11:00 a.m. ET | ESPN
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park | Boston, Mass.

North Carolina (6-6, 3-5 ACC)
Interim Head Coach: Freddie Kitchens
Record at UNC: 0-0-0
Career Record: 0-0-0

UConn Huskies (8-4)
Head Coach: Jim Mora (Washington, 1984)
Record at UConn: 17-20 (3rd Season)

TV: ESPN
Play-By-Play: Chris Cotter
Analyst: Mark Herzlich
Sideline: Coley Harvey

Radio - Tar Heel Sports Network
Local: WCHL-FM 97.9 (Chapel Hill) | WCHL-AM 1360 (Chapel Hill)
Sirius: 81
Play-by-Play: Jones Angell
Analyst: Bryn Renner & Joe Jauch
Sideline: Lee Pace
Pre-Game Show: Dave Nathan & Na' Brown

Series History
All-Time Series Record: UNC leads, 3-0 *Two wins were later vacated.
Last Meeting: North Carolina won, 12-10 (2009, Storrs) *victory was later vacated.

Shipping Up to Boston
Before ushering in a new era of Carolina football, the Tar Heels will look to
finish its 2024 season with a victory over UConn in iconic Fenway Park. The Tar Heels
and Huskies have not faced each other since the 2009 season and this marks the first
matchup at a neutral site location between the two schools.

A Win Would...
» Give Carolina its third consecutive winning season and its fifth in six seasons.
» Give the Tar Heels its first bowl game victory since the 2019 Military Bowl.
» Cement Freddie Kitchens' first win as a college head coach.
» Extend UNC's winning streak to four in against UConn.

Tylee Strong
To honor their teammate, members of the wide receiver room decided that each game, starting with the Oct. 12 contest against Georgia Tech, a different member of the receiving corps will wear Tylee's number 13 for the remainder of the season. J.J. Jones, Kobe Paysour, Christian Hamilton, and Chris Culliver have worn the number 13 jersey so far this season.

My "O" My
Omarion Hampton finished the season with the second-most rushing yards in the country (1,660). Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty of Boise St. (2,497) was the only running back to out-rush Hampton this season. In addition, Hampton will finish his UNC career in third place all-time with 40 touchdowns scored and fourth place all-time with
3,565 career rushing yards.

Thirty Threshold
Over the past six seasons, the Tar Heels are 76-11 when they score 30-plus points and 49-2 when they score 40-plus points

All-American Duo
Omarion Hampton and Willie Lampkin were each named All-Americans by multiple outlets.

»Omarion Hampton

AFCA All-America (1st Team)
AP All-America (2nd Team)
Sporting News All-America (2nd Team)
Walter Camp All-America (2nd Team)
CBS Sports All-America (2nd Team)
CFB Network All-America (2nd Team)
Sports Illustrated All-America (HM)

»Willie Lampkin

AFCA All-America (2nd Team)
AP All-America (1st Team)
Sporting News All-America (1st Team)
Walter Camp All-America (2nd Team)
Action Network All-America (2nd Team)
The Athletic All-America (2nd Team)
CFB Network All-America (1st Team)
Sports Illustrated All-America (HM)
USA Today All-America (2nd Team)

A New Era
On December 11th, the University of North Carolina announced the hiring of legendary football coach, Bill Belichick. A three-time AP NFL Coach of the Year (2003, 2007, 2010), Belichick has an all-time NFL head coaching record of 333-178 (.652) and is only 14 NFL wins away from the overall wins record. He is a member of the NFL's All- Decade Team for the 2000s and the 2010s, and he also was a member of the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and holds the record for most NFL Playoff victories
(31).

Numbers To Know

2,500 - Jacolby Criswell needs just 48 passing yards to eclipse 2,500 on the season despite not starting until week three.

0 - Willie Lampkin is the highest graded offensive guard in the Power 4 by Pro Football Focus, and has not given up a sack this season.

3 - Carolina has three interception returns for touchdowns this season, one shy of the program record of four, set in both 2008 and 2009.

6 - UNC has a total of six non-offensive touchdowns this season; three interception returns, a blocked punt return, a punt return and a kickoff return.

32.3 - The Tar Heel offense averaged 34.5 points per game last season. UNC ended the season ranked 20th in the FBS in scoring.

1,000 - North Carolina players have a total of six 1,000-yard rushing seasons since 2019. That is the most of any team in the country.

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Jacolby Criswell

Chris Culliver

Christian Hamilton

Omarion Hampton

J.J. Jones

Willie Lampkin

Kobe Paysour

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