Football Begins ACC Play Saturday Hosting Clemson

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 2025 North Carolina football team returns to Chapel Hill this weekend for the Atlantic Coast Conference opener, hosting Clemson. Opening kickoff between the Tar Heels and Tigers from Kenan Stadium is set for noon.

Game Information
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 4 - Noon
Watch: ESPN
Live Stats
Tickets: Sold Out! Buy on SeatGeek
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Radio Network (97.9 FM in Chapel Hill)
Know Before You Go
Gameday Guide

Chapel Thrill Presented by Frost Buddy Gameday Timeline
8:00 AM: Modelo Kick Off Club, Coca-Cola Fan Zone and tailgating open
9:30 AM: Old Well Walk begins
10:00 AM: Chapel Thrill Concert Series presented by The Rams Club, Ludacris
10:30 AM: Kenan Stadium gates open
10:30 AM: Marching Tar Heels perform in The Pit
11:30 AM: Last call for Coca-Cola Fan Zone and Chapel Thrill
Noon: Kickoff

First And Ten
• Carolina is in its 135th season of football (138th year) in 2025.
• Entering the matchup with Clemson, the Tar Heels hold an all-time record of 753-578-54.
• The Tar Heels begin the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference portion of the schedule Saturday, hosting the Tigers.
• Saturday afternoon's game between the Tar Heels and Tigers will be live on ESPN, with Mark Jones (PxP), Roddy Jones (Analyst) and Quint Kessenich (Sideline) on the call.
• On December 11, 2024, Carolina announced the hiring of eight-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick as the program's new football coach.
• Belichick became the 40th coach in program history, the 12th to lead the program since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953.
• Belichick's ties to UNC date back to his father, Steve, who was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953-55.
• With the coaching transition, the 2025 Carolina Football coaching staff features more than 240 years of combined NFL experience.
• At the start of 2025, the Tar Heel roster featured 38 returners and 70 newcomers, including 40 transfers and 30 true freshmen.
• Tar Heel running back Demon June ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards (250), among Power Four freshman running backs.

A Win Over Clemson Would...
• Be Carolina's 754th all-time victory in program history.
• Give Belichick his third win at the college level, his second win at Kenan Stadium and first career Atlantic Coast Conference victory.
• Help the Tar Heels start 1-0 in ACC action for the first time since 2023.
• Give Carolina its second victory at Kenan Stadium this fall, starting the month of October 1-0.
• Be the Tar Heels' 31st ACC opener victory, and the program's 39th ACC home opener victory.
• Be the first win over a preseason top-five program for the Tar Heels since defeating Florida State in 2016.
• Give Carolina its first win over the Tigers since 2010, snapping a six-game losing streak versus Clemson.

The Opponent
• The Tigers are led by Dabo Swinney, who's in his 18th season at the helm. In his time at Clemson, Swinney has two national titles and nine ACC Championships.
• Clemson began the season at No. 4 in the preseason AP Poll.
• A year ago, the Tigers finished at 10-4 (7-1 ACC), winning the ACC Championship and making the first round of the College Football Playoff.
• Under center, the Tigers' offense is directed by Cade Klubnik, a Preseason All-ACC selection. This year, Klubnik has completed 60 percent of his passes, averaging 249.0 yards per game.
• Saturday is Clemson's third ACC contest of the year, following losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse.

Coaches Versus Cancer
• For the third-straight year, the North Carolina Football program welcomed pediatric cancer patients and their families to the Kenan Football Center for the annual Kicks for Kids event.
• Each patient was paired with a player to create a unique design for each coach to don on the sideline this weekend versus Clemson.
• The game-worn shoes will be available for purchase through an auction link, with all proceeds benefiting the UNC Children's Hospital.
• To bid, click here.

ACC Opener History
• Entering the matchup versus the Tigers, Carolina is 30-42 all-time in Atlantic Coast Conference openers (since 1953), and 38-34 all-time in the ACC home opener.
• Saturday is the fourth time the Tar Heels will open ACC play versus Clemson.
• A season ago, Carolina opened ACC action on the road at Duke (Loss, 21-20), followed by the conference home opener a week later versus Pitt (Loss, 34-24).

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Players Mentioned

Demon June

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