University of North Carolina Athletics

"The South's Oldest Rivalry" Renewed On Saturday Versus Virginia
October 20, 2023 | Football
Who:
No. 10 North Carolina (6-0, 3-0 ACC) vs. Virginia (1-5, 0-2 ACC)
Where:
Kenan Stadium – Chapel Hill, N.C.
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 – 6:30 p.m. – The CW
UNCovered: A Documentary on Carolina Football
Get ready for game day with UNCovered, an in-depth look at the Carolina football season. There have been two episodes so far, each encapsulating three games of the six-game season this year. Go inside the program with these full-length documentaries:
The Season Continues (Games 4-6): Click HERE
The '23 Season Begins (Games 1-3):Â Click HERE
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The Lead: The Tar Heels are 6-0 for the first time since 1997 and only the second time since 1983. After back-to-back games with 500 or more offensive yards, North Carolina will look for its third straight win over the Virginia Cavaliers. Entering this week's matchup, North Carolina is in the AP Top-10 for the first time since 2021.
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Storylines:Â
- Â North Carolina has scored 40 or more points in four of its last five games.Â
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 North Carolina enters the week ranked 10th in the AP & Coaches polls. It is the highest the Tar Heels have been ranked since Sept. 3, 2021.
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 This is the second time ever and first time since 1914 UNC has scored 30-plus points in its first six games.
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 UNC has scored 30 or more points in 10 of its last 14 games.
- Â Last week versus Miami, Drake Maye became the sixth Tar Heel QB to accumulate 7,000 career total yards.
From The Notes:
- Through six games, UNC is averaging 501.3 yards per game, good for 8th in the FBS.
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Carolina has scored 28 times in 31 drives (90.3%) in the red zone this season. The Tar Heels have scored 19 TDs and nine field goals.
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Last week was the 23rd time since Brown returned as head coach in 2019 that the Tar Heels scored 40 or more points.
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Through four games, the Tar Heels have not allowed any points in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium this year.
- Entering the week, UNC is converting 53% of its 3rd down opportunities. 53 percent is good for 8th in the FBS.
Switching Sides:
- Wide receiver Malik Washington maintained his ACC lead in receiving yards. He has four 100-yard receiving efforts in six games this season.
- Virginia has owned double-digit leads in four of its six games this season. The Cavaliers have been on the wrong end of three games decided by three points or less this season. In the first 16 games of Tony Elliott's tenure, the Cavaliers have been a part of seven games decided by a field goal or less and are 1-6 in those contests.
- The Cavaliers are 2-2 against the Tar Heels after a bye week. Virginia has won three of its last four games coming off a bye, including a 16-9 win at Georgia Tech last season, Tony Elliott's first ACC win as head coach at UVA.
Mack's Weekly Press Conference:
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