University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, November 22
Chapel Hill, N.C.
3:30 P.M.
North Carolina
vs
Duke
Football Hosts Duke On Senior Day In The Battle For Victory Bell
November 21, 2025 | Football
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina football will wrap up its home slate Saturday against Duke in the Battle for the Victory Bell, as the program recognizes Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network from Kenan Stadium.
FIRST AND 10
- Carolina is in its 135th season of football (138th year) in 2025.
- Entering the rivalry matchup with Duke, the Tar Heels hold an all-time record of 755-582-54.
- The Tar Heels close the regular season versus the Big Four trio of Wake Forest, Duke and NC State, this weekend hosting Duke at 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday's game between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils will air live on ACC Network with Wes Durham (PxP), Steve Addazio (Analyst) and Dana Boyle (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.
- Defensive linemen Melkart Abou Jaoude leads the Atlantic Coast Conference with 10.0 sacks on the year, followed by teammate Tyler Thompson ranking third in the league, with seven sacks.
- Last time out, kicker Rece Verhoff drilled a 57-yard field goal, the longest in school history.
A WIN OVER DUKE WOULD…
- Be Carolina's 756th all-time victory in program history.
- Help Carolina earn its fifth win of the season.
- Give Belichick his fifth win at the college level, and his third Atlantic Coast Conference victory.
- Help the Tar Heels secure their fourth-straight victory over the Blue Devils in Chapel Hill.
- Be Carolina's longest home winning streak over the Blue Devils since its five-game win streak over Duke in the 1990's.
THE OPPONENT
- Duke is led by Manny Diaz, who's in his second season at Duke. Last year in his first campaign, Diaz helped the Blue Devils to nine wins.
- Under center, Darian Mensah's 3,007 yards passing leads the Atlantic Coast Conference, and ranks fourth nationally. Mensah's 25 passing touchdowns also lead the ACC and are tied for third in the country.
- The Blue Devil offense averages 432.7 yards per game, fourth best in the ACC.
- Last time out, Duke fell to No. 19 Virginia, 34-17, at home.
- Duke is 3-0 this season on the road in ACC play, collecting wins over Syracuse (38-3), California (45-21) and Clemson (46-45).
LAST TIME VERSUS DUKE
- Duke overcame a 20-0, third-quarter deficit and edged North Carolina, 21-20 at Wallace Wade Stadium in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
- The loss snapped UNC's five-game winning streak in the series. It was the Blue Devils' largest second-half comeback win since 1962.
- Jacolby Criswell completed 21 of 39 passing attempts for 251 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for UNC. Omarion Hampton ran 29 times for 103 yards while also posting a career-high 50 receiving yards on four catches. J.J. Jones caught five passes for 89 yards and a score.
FROM THE NOTES: WAKE FOREST
- Quarterback Gio Lopez finished the game 21-36 for 201 yards. Saturday was Lopez's fifth-straight game with 200-or-more passing yards, his longest streak of the season and the longest streak in his career.
- Freshman running back Demon June led the Tar Heels in rushing, his fifth game this season pacing the Tar Heels on the ground. June's 452 yards rushing this season rank second among ACC freshmen.
- Tight end Jake Johnson finished with five receptions for 54 yards. The five catches were the second most in Johnson's career and his UNC best. The 54 yards receiving are a career-high for the redshirt junior.
- Linebacker Khmori House led the Tar Heels for the second-straight game with nine tackles, which included a sack and forced fumble.
- Defensive linemen Melkart Abou Jaoude and D'Antre Robinson each posted seven tackles, career highs for both Tar Heels.
- Kicker Rece Verhoff had six field goal attempts in the game, tied for the Carolina single-game record. The six field goal attempts has occurred four previous times in program history, most recently by Noah Burnette versus Duke in 2023.
- Verhoff's four field goals made are the second most in program history, tying a career-high for the Columbus Grove, Ohio, native.
- With time expiring in the first half, Verhoff drilled a 57-yard field goal, breaking Carolina's school record for longest field goal made. The previous record, held by Dan Orner, was a 55-yarder versus Syracuse in 2002.
STOPPING THE RUN
- The Tar Heels' run defense ranks fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in league games, allowing 100.0 yards per game.
- In Carolina's first three ACC games, the Tar Heel defense held opponents under 100 yards rushing in three consecutive conference games for the first time since 2009.
- Opponents have averaged just 3.0 yards per rush in ACC games.
- Two weeks ago, versus Stanford, Carolina limited the Cardinal to just 36 yards rushing.
IN-STATE BATTLES
- Last weekend started the first of three-straight games against Atlantic Coast Conference foes from the state of North Carolina. This weekend, Carolina hosts Duke in the second leg of the in-state swing:
- Saturday, Nov. 15: North Carolina at Wake Forest: Loss, 28-12
- Saturday, Nov. 22: Duke at North Carolina
- Saturday, Nov. 29: North Carolina at NC State
- Carolina will face the trio of Wake Forest, Duke and NC State in three consecutive games for the third time in program history, 1933, 1999 and 2025.
- In both of the previous occurrences, the Tar Heels went 2-1 in the three-game swing versus the Tar Heel State opponents.
MELKART'S LAST FOUR GAMES
- Over the last four games, defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude has 22 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
- In the Tar Heels' stretch against Virginia, Syracuse and Stanford, Abou Jaoude had multiple sacks in all three games.
- Abou Jaoude's 10 sacks on the season are a career high and atop the Atlantic Coast Conference and the most in a season by a Tar Heel since Kareem Martin's 11.5 sacks in 2013.
- The Newton, N.J., native's 10 sacks rank sixth in the nation.
DEFENSIVE END DUO
- The tandem of Melkart Abou Jaoude and Tyler Thompson have combined for 18 sacks this season, 14 of which have come in the last four games.
- Abou Jaoude's 10 sacks leads the ACC, and Thompson's mark currently ranks tied for second.
- As a team, the Tar Heels are averaging 2.9 sacks per game, ranking second in the ACC and 13th nationally.
SMART FOOTBALL
- North Carolina ranks third in the ACC in fewest penalties, with 56 on the season.
- The Tar Heels are averaging 5.6 per game under Coach Belichick, a mark that ranks fourth in the conference.
FIRST AND 10
- Carolina is in its 135th season of football (138th year) in 2025.
- Entering the rivalry matchup with Duke, the Tar Heels hold an all-time record of 755-582-54.
- The Tar Heels close the regular season versus the Big Four trio of Wake Forest, Duke and NC State, this weekend hosting Duke at 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday's game between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils will air live on ACC Network with Wes Durham (PxP), Steve Addazio (Analyst) and Dana Boyle (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.
- Defensive linemen Melkart Abou Jaoude leads the Atlantic Coast Conference with 10.0 sacks on the year, followed by teammate Tyler Thompson ranking third in the league, with seven sacks.
- Last time out, kicker Rece Verhoff drilled a 57-yard field goal, the longest in school history.
A WIN OVER DUKE WOULD…
- Be Carolina's 756th all-time victory in program history.
- Help Carolina earn its fifth win of the season.
- Give Belichick his fifth win at the college level, and his third Atlantic Coast Conference victory.
- Help the Tar Heels secure their fourth-straight victory over the Blue Devils in Chapel Hill.
- Be Carolina's longest home winning streak over the Blue Devils since its five-game win streak over Duke in the 1990's.
THE OPPONENT
- Duke is led by Manny Diaz, who's in his second season at Duke. Last year in his first campaign, Diaz helped the Blue Devils to nine wins.
- Under center, Darian Mensah's 3,007 yards passing leads the Atlantic Coast Conference, and ranks fourth nationally. Mensah's 25 passing touchdowns also lead the ACC and are tied for third in the country.
- The Blue Devil offense averages 432.7 yards per game, fourth best in the ACC.
- Last time out, Duke fell to No. 19 Virginia, 34-17, at home.
- Duke is 3-0 this season on the road in ACC play, collecting wins over Syracuse (38-3), California (45-21) and Clemson (46-45).
LAST TIME VERSUS DUKE
- Duke overcame a 20-0, third-quarter deficit and edged North Carolina, 21-20 at Wallace Wade Stadium in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
- The loss snapped UNC's five-game winning streak in the series. It was the Blue Devils' largest second-half comeback win since 1962.
- Jacolby Criswell completed 21 of 39 passing attempts for 251 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for UNC. Omarion Hampton ran 29 times for 103 yards while also posting a career-high 50 receiving yards on four catches. J.J. Jones caught five passes for 89 yards and a score.
FROM THE NOTES: WAKE FOREST
- Quarterback Gio Lopez finished the game 21-36 for 201 yards. Saturday was Lopez's fifth-straight game with 200-or-more passing yards, his longest streak of the season and the longest streak in his career.
- Freshman running back Demon June led the Tar Heels in rushing, his fifth game this season pacing the Tar Heels on the ground. June's 452 yards rushing this season rank second among ACC freshmen.
- Tight end Jake Johnson finished with five receptions for 54 yards. The five catches were the second most in Johnson's career and his UNC best. The 54 yards receiving are a career-high for the redshirt junior.
- Linebacker Khmori House led the Tar Heels for the second-straight game with nine tackles, which included a sack and forced fumble.
- Defensive linemen Melkart Abou Jaoude and D'Antre Robinson each posted seven tackles, career highs for both Tar Heels.
- Kicker Rece Verhoff had six field goal attempts in the game, tied for the Carolina single-game record. The six field goal attempts has occurred four previous times in program history, most recently by Noah Burnette versus Duke in 2023.
- Verhoff's four field goals made are the second most in program history, tying a career-high for the Columbus Grove, Ohio, native.
- With time expiring in the first half, Verhoff drilled a 57-yard field goal, breaking Carolina's school record for longest field goal made. The previous record, held by Dan Orner, was a 55-yarder versus Syracuse in 2002.
STOPPING THE RUN
- The Tar Heels' run defense ranks fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in league games, allowing 100.0 yards per game.
- In Carolina's first three ACC games, the Tar Heel defense held opponents under 100 yards rushing in three consecutive conference games for the first time since 2009.
- Opponents have averaged just 3.0 yards per rush in ACC games.
- Two weeks ago, versus Stanford, Carolina limited the Cardinal to just 36 yards rushing.
IN-STATE BATTLES
- Last weekend started the first of three-straight games against Atlantic Coast Conference foes from the state of North Carolina. This weekend, Carolina hosts Duke in the second leg of the in-state swing:
- Saturday, Nov. 15: North Carolina at Wake Forest: Loss, 28-12
- Saturday, Nov. 22: Duke at North Carolina
- Saturday, Nov. 29: North Carolina at NC State
- Carolina will face the trio of Wake Forest, Duke and NC State in three consecutive games for the third time in program history, 1933, 1999 and 2025.
- In both of the previous occurrences, the Tar Heels went 2-1 in the three-game swing versus the Tar Heel State opponents.
MELKART'S LAST FOUR GAMES
- Over the last four games, defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude has 22 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
- In the Tar Heels' stretch against Virginia, Syracuse and Stanford, Abou Jaoude had multiple sacks in all three games.
- Abou Jaoude's 10 sacks on the season are a career high and atop the Atlantic Coast Conference and the most in a season by a Tar Heel since Kareem Martin's 11.5 sacks in 2013.
- The Newton, N.J., native's 10 sacks rank sixth in the nation.
DEFENSIVE END DUO
- The tandem of Melkart Abou Jaoude and Tyler Thompson have combined for 18 sacks this season, 14 of which have come in the last four games.
- Abou Jaoude's 10 sacks leads the ACC, and Thompson's mark currently ranks tied for second.
- As a team, the Tar Heels are averaging 2.9 sacks per game, ranking second in the ACC and 13th nationally.
SMART FOOTBALL
- North Carolina ranks third in the ACC in fewest penalties, with 56 on the season.
- The Tar Heels are averaging 5.6 per game under Coach Belichick, a mark that ranks fourth in the conference.
Players Mentioned
Defensive Line
/ Football
Place-Kicker
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Quarterback
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Running Back
/ Football
Linebacker
/ Football
Tight End
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Wide Receiver
/ Football
Running Back
/ Football
Defensive Line
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Linebacker
/ Football
Kicker
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