Football Set To Host Charlotte In Home Opener

Kenan Stadium Drone Aerial
University of North Carolina Football v Notre Dame
Kenan Stadium
Chapel Hill, NC
Saturday, September 24, 2022

Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications

September 6, 2024 | Football

Media Central Watch: Weekly Press Conference Carolina Game Notes Charlotte Game Notes Know Before You Go

The Matchup
North Carolina vs. Charlotte
Saturday, September 7, 2024
3:30 p.m. ET | ACC Network
Kenan Memorial Stadium | Chapel Hill, N.C.

North Carolina (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Mack Brown
Record at UNC: 108-73-1
Career Record: 283-149-1

Charlotte 49ers (0-1, 0-0 AAC)
Head Coach: Biff Poggi
Record at Charlotte: 3-10
Career Record: 3-10

TV: ACC Network
Play-By-Play: Jorge Sedano
Analyst: Orlando Franklin
Sideline: Morgan Uber

Radio - Tar Heel Sports Network
Local: WCHL-FM 97.9 (Chapel Hill) | WCHL-AM 1360 (Chapel Hill)
Sirius/XM: 108 or 205
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: First Meeting
Last Meeting: --

A Win Would...
» Give Carolina its seventh consecutive win in home openers.
» Be the Tar Heels' first win over Charlotte...in the first meeting between the two teams.
» Make UNC 2-0 to start the year for the third straight season.
» Be a fun time.

Second Stint Success
Coming into the 2024 season, Carolina was tied for second in the ACC in both overall and conference wins since Mack Brown's return to Chapel Hill. Clemson led both categories with 54 overall wins and 34 ACC victories with UNC and NC State tied for second at 38 overall wins and 24 conference victories.

First Game vs. Charlotte
The Tar Heels and the 49ers have never met on the gridiron since Charlotte added football in 2012. The 49ers played their first game in 2013, had their first winning season in 2019, and played in their first bowl game in December of 2019.

Ritzie Racking 'em Up
Defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week and Outland Trophy National Player of the Week accolades after the win over Minnesota. He totaled a career-high three sacks in the victory, the most in a game by a Tar Heel since 2019.

Burrrrrr-nette
Place-kicker Noah Burnette had ice in his veins, connecting on all four of his field goals in the opener. He hit a career-long 52-yarder and was good from 45 to win the game with 1:44 to play. He earned ACC Specialist of the Week honors and Lou Groza Award "Star of the Week" accolades for his performance.

My "O" My
Omarion Hampton ranked near the top of the national charts in nearly all rushing statistics in 2023, but he led the country in one key category. Of his 1,504 rushing yards, 1,072 came after contact according to PFF. In addition to his rushing yards, Hampton was one of two running backs in the country that rushed for over 1,500 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. Ollie Gordon of Oklahoma State was the other. In the 2024 opener, Hampton totaled 129 yards on the ground.

Thirty Threshold
The Tar Heels are 71-8 under Mack Brown when they score 30-plus points and 47-1 when they score 40-plus points, but needed only 19 in the win over Minnesota.

Nine Tar Heels Named To Preseason Award Watch Lists
Noah Burnette, John Copenhaver, Power Echols, Omarion Hampton, Alijah Huzzie, Willie Lampkin, Bryson Nesbit, Kobe Paysour and Kaimon Rucker each garnered preseason award watch list recognition.

»Noah Burnette

Lou Groza Award Watch List

»John Copenhaver

Mackey Award Watch List

»Power Echols

Bednarik Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List

»Omarion Hampton

Maxwell Award Watch List
Walter Camp Player of the Year
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Sporting News Preseason All-America First Team -AP Preseason All-America First Team
Preseason All-ACC

»Alijah Huzzie

Paul Hornung Award Watch List

»Willie Lampkin

Preseason All-ACC Bryson Nesbit
John Mackey Award Watch List

»Bryson Nesbit

John Mackey Award Watch List

»Kobe Paysour

CSC Comeback Player of the Year

»Jahvaree Ritzie

Outland Trophy Watch List

»Kaimon Rucker

Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Bednarik Award Watch List

Numbers To Know

5-1 - Carolina has played five power conference opponents in its last six season openers since Coach Brown's return, going 5-1 in those games.

15 - The Tar Heels' defense allowed only 15 yards rushing in the second half against Minnesota and only 78 total for the game.

5 - North Carolina's defense forced five three-and-outs on Minnesota's 10 offensive drives in the season opener.

10 - Jakeen Harris recorded a career-high 10 tackles in the road win at Minnesota.

19 - UNC's 19 points in the opener were its fewest in a win since defeating Miami 18-14 in 2012.