University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, November 8
Chapel Hill, N.C.
4:30 P.M.
North Carolina
vs
Stanford
Football Hosts Stanford Saturday On Homecoming/Military Appreciation Day
November 7, 2025 | Football
Media Central | Weekly Press Conference | Extra Points: Military Man
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Carolina football returns to Kenan Stadium this weekend to host Stanford on Homecoming and the Tar Heels will also observe Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff against the Cardinal is set for 4:30 p.m. on The CW.
FIRST AND TEN
- Carolina is in its 135th season of football (138th year) in 2025.
- Entering the matchup with Stanford, the Tar Heels hold an all-time record of 754-581-54.
- The Tar Heels meet the Cardinal Saturday afternoon for the first time as Atlantic Coast Conference foes.
- Saturday evening's game between the Tar Heels and Cardinal will air live on The CW with Thom Brennaman (PxP), Will Blackmon (Analyst) and Wes Bryant (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.
- North Carolina held Syracuse to just 147 yards of total offense last weekend, the fewest allowed by the Tar Heel defense this season.
- The Tar Heels rank ninth nationally in red zone defense, as opponents have only scored on 19 of 27 trips (70.4%), which is second in the ACC.
A WIN OVER STANFORD WOULD…
- Be Carolina's 755th all-time victory in program history.
- Give Belichick his fourth win at the college level, and his first Atlantic Coast Conference win at Kenan Stadium.
- Help the Tar Heels secure their second win versus Stanford, the first for Carolina over the Cardinal since 1997.
- Give Carolina its second victory at home this fall.
- Be the Tar Heels' first victory over Stanford as ACC opponents.
- Give Carolina its second-straight ACC victory.
THE OPPONENT
- Stanford is led by interim head coach Frank Reich, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers.
- Luck was named the Cardinal's general manager prior to the 2025 campaign. A two-time Heisman runner-up at Stanford, Luck was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, playing seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
- Saturday is the first meeting between the two programs as Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. The Cardinal were one of three institutions added to the conference last school year.
- Last time out, Stanford fell to Pittsburgh, 35-20, at home.
LAST TIME VERSUS STANFORD
- Bryce Love took over for the absent Christian McCaffrey in the Stanford backfield, running for 119 yards and catching a 49-yard touchdown pass to help the No. 16 Cardinal beat North Carolina 25-23 on Friday in the Sun Bowl.
- Stanford (10-3) held on after North Carolina (8-5) pulled within two with 25 seconds left on Mitch Trubisky's 2-yard pass to Bug Howard, sacking Trubisky on the 2-point conversion try.
- Stanford took a 25-17 lead on Conrad Ukropina's 27-yard field goal with 3:23 left. North Carolina was forced to punt on its next series, but used two timeouts to get the ball back.
- After taking over at their own 3, the Tar Heels drove 97 yards in 10 plays and 1:11. After competing passes of 44 and 27 yards, Trubisky capped the drive with the 2-yard scoring pass to Howard.
- Stanford then sacked Trubisky on the 2-point try, a rush led by Solomon Thomas forcing the quarterback to retreat before being taken down.
FROM THE NOTES: SYRACUSE RECAP
- Quarterback Gio Lopez went 15-19 for 216 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Lopez's 216 yards was a season-best for the Tar Heel southpaw.
- Lopez's two passing touchdowns matched a season high, connecting with Demon June and Jordan Shipp versus the Orange.
- June posted 182 total yards in the game (101 rushing, 81 receiving). June's 101 yards on the ground was his second time this season eclipsing the century mark.
- June's 72-yard receiving touchdown was the Tar Heels' longest scoring play of the season.
- Melkart Abou Jaoude posted two sacks in the win, his second-straight game with multiple sacks.
- The Carolina defense allowed just 152 total yards in the contest, the fewest allowed this season. The 152 yards of offense by Syracuse was the fewest Carolina has allowed versus an ACC opponent since Clemson posted 132 yards in 1997.
ABOU JAOUDE GARNERS ACC WEEKLY HONORS
- After taking over as the ACC individual leader in sacks (7), North Carolina's Melkart Abou Jaoude has been named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
- Abou Jaoude continued his strong season for Carolina Friday night, wreaking havoc against the Syracuse offensive line to lead the Tar Heels to a 27-10 victory against the Orange.
- He tallied a game-high six tackles to go along with 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
- The Newton, New Jersey, native logged at least two sacks for the second consecutive game to increase his season total to seven, which leads the ACC and ranks among the top 10 nationally. One of his sacks was a strip sack in the fourth quarter to help put the game away, as Smith Vilbert recovered the fumble to give the Tar Heels possession.
STOPPING THE RUN
- The Tar Heels' defense ranks third in the Atlantic Coast Conference in conference games, allowing just 85.3 yards per game on the ground.
- In Carolina's first three ACC games, the Tar Heel defense held opponents under 100 yards in three consecutive conference games for the first time since 2009.
- Opponents have averaged just 2.66 yards per rush against the Tar Heels in conference action, the best in the ACC.
NEW ACC FOES
- Saturday's game between the Tar Heels and Cardinal is the first for Carolina against Stanford in Atlantic Coast Conference action.
- Future UNC meetings against the most recent ACC additions, California, SMU and Stanford:
- Friday, Oct. 17: California 21, Carolina 18
- Saturday, Nov. 8: Stanford at North Carolina
- 2028: North Carolina at SMU
BELICHICK VS. REICH
- Saturday's game will be the fourth meeting between Bill Belichick and Frank Reich as head coaches with Belichick owning a 2-1 advantage in head-to-head meetings.
- The two last met on Nov. 6, 2022, when Belichick's New England Patriots earned a 26-3 victory against Reich's Indianapolis Colts in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
SMART FOOTBALL
- North Carolina ranks 23rd nationally and second in the ACC in fewest penalties, with 41 on the season.
- The Tar Heels are averaging 5.1 per game under Coach Belichick, a mark that ranks second in the conference.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Carolina football returns to Kenan Stadium this weekend to host Stanford on Homecoming and the Tar Heels will also observe Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff against the Cardinal is set for 4:30 p.m. on The CW.
FIRST AND TEN
- Carolina is in its 135th season of football (138th year) in 2025.
- Entering the matchup with Stanford, the Tar Heels hold an all-time record of 754-581-54.
- The Tar Heels meet the Cardinal Saturday afternoon for the first time as Atlantic Coast Conference foes.
- Saturday evening's game between the Tar Heels and Cardinal will air live on The CW with Thom Brennaman (PxP), Will Blackmon (Analyst) and Wes Bryant (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.
- North Carolina held Syracuse to just 147 yards of total offense last weekend, the fewest allowed by the Tar Heel defense this season.
- The Tar Heels rank ninth nationally in red zone defense, as opponents have only scored on 19 of 27 trips (70.4%), which is second in the ACC.
A WIN OVER STANFORD WOULD…
- Be Carolina's 755th all-time victory in program history.
- Give Belichick his fourth win at the college level, and his first Atlantic Coast Conference win at Kenan Stadium.
- Help the Tar Heels secure their second win versus Stanford, the first for Carolina over the Cardinal since 1997.
- Give Carolina its second victory at home this fall.
- Be the Tar Heels' first victory over Stanford as ACC opponents.
- Give Carolina its second-straight ACC victory.
THE OPPONENT
- Stanford is led by interim head coach Frank Reich, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers.
- Luck was named the Cardinal's general manager prior to the 2025 campaign. A two-time Heisman runner-up at Stanford, Luck was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, playing seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
- Saturday is the first meeting between the two programs as Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. The Cardinal were one of three institutions added to the conference last school year.
- Last time out, Stanford fell to Pittsburgh, 35-20, at home.
LAST TIME VERSUS STANFORD
- Bryce Love took over for the absent Christian McCaffrey in the Stanford backfield, running for 119 yards and catching a 49-yard touchdown pass to help the No. 16 Cardinal beat North Carolina 25-23 on Friday in the Sun Bowl.
- Stanford (10-3) held on after North Carolina (8-5) pulled within two with 25 seconds left on Mitch Trubisky's 2-yard pass to Bug Howard, sacking Trubisky on the 2-point conversion try.
- Stanford took a 25-17 lead on Conrad Ukropina's 27-yard field goal with 3:23 left. North Carolina was forced to punt on its next series, but used two timeouts to get the ball back.
- After taking over at their own 3, the Tar Heels drove 97 yards in 10 plays and 1:11. After competing passes of 44 and 27 yards, Trubisky capped the drive with the 2-yard scoring pass to Howard.
- Stanford then sacked Trubisky on the 2-point try, a rush led by Solomon Thomas forcing the quarterback to retreat before being taken down.
FROM THE NOTES: SYRACUSE RECAP
- Quarterback Gio Lopez went 15-19 for 216 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Lopez's 216 yards was a season-best for the Tar Heel southpaw.
- Lopez's two passing touchdowns matched a season high, connecting with Demon June and Jordan Shipp versus the Orange.
- June posted 182 total yards in the game (101 rushing, 81 receiving). June's 101 yards on the ground was his second time this season eclipsing the century mark.
- June's 72-yard receiving touchdown was the Tar Heels' longest scoring play of the season.
- Melkart Abou Jaoude posted two sacks in the win, his second-straight game with multiple sacks.
- The Carolina defense allowed just 152 total yards in the contest, the fewest allowed this season. The 152 yards of offense by Syracuse was the fewest Carolina has allowed versus an ACC opponent since Clemson posted 132 yards in 1997.
ABOU JAOUDE GARNERS ACC WEEKLY HONORS
- After taking over as the ACC individual leader in sacks (7), North Carolina's Melkart Abou Jaoude has been named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
- Abou Jaoude continued his strong season for Carolina Friday night, wreaking havoc against the Syracuse offensive line to lead the Tar Heels to a 27-10 victory against the Orange.
- He tallied a game-high six tackles to go along with 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
- The Newton, New Jersey, native logged at least two sacks for the second consecutive game to increase his season total to seven, which leads the ACC and ranks among the top 10 nationally. One of his sacks was a strip sack in the fourth quarter to help put the game away, as Smith Vilbert recovered the fumble to give the Tar Heels possession.
STOPPING THE RUN
- The Tar Heels' defense ranks third in the Atlantic Coast Conference in conference games, allowing just 85.3 yards per game on the ground.
- In Carolina's first three ACC games, the Tar Heel defense held opponents under 100 yards in three consecutive conference games for the first time since 2009.
- Opponents have averaged just 2.66 yards per rush against the Tar Heels in conference action, the best in the ACC.
NEW ACC FOES
- Saturday's game between the Tar Heels and Cardinal is the first for Carolina against Stanford in Atlantic Coast Conference action.
- Future UNC meetings against the most recent ACC additions, California, SMU and Stanford:
- Friday, Oct. 17: California 21, Carolina 18
- Saturday, Nov. 8: Stanford at North Carolina
- 2028: North Carolina at SMU
BELICHICK VS. REICH
- Saturday's game will be the fourth meeting between Bill Belichick and Frank Reich as head coaches with Belichick owning a 2-1 advantage in head-to-head meetings.
- The two last met on Nov. 6, 2022, when Belichick's New England Patriots earned a 26-3 victory against Reich's Indianapolis Colts in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
SMART FOOTBALL
- North Carolina ranks 23rd nationally and second in the ACC in fewest penalties, with 41 on the season.
- The Tar Heels are averaging 5.1 per game under Coach Belichick, a mark that ranks second in the conference.
Players Mentioned
Defensive Line
/ Football
Running Back
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Defensive Line
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