University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, November 7
East Hartford, Conn. (Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field)
Noon
North Carolina
at
UConn
November 6, 2026 | Football
First and Ten
• Carolina is in its 136th season of football (139th year) in 2026 and the Tar Heels own an all-time record of 759-588-54.
• Carolina will step out of conference play for the final time this season, as the Tar Heels travel to East Hartford, Connecticut, this weekend for a matchup with UConn. Kickoff from Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field is set for noon on CBS Sports with Jordan Kent (PxP), Robert Turbin (Analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (Sideline) on the call.
• UConn and UNC are meeting for the first time since 2024 when the program's met in the Fenway Bowl with the Huskies earning a 27-14 win.
• In their last outing, the Tar Heels played one of their best games of the season, but came up short against the nation's top-ranked Miami Hurricanes, 38-35. Carolina tied a season-high in points scored in the contest, as Miami's defense entered the game limiting opponents to just 15.3 points per game.
• Billy Edwards Jr. had his best game as a Tar Heel on the biggest stage for Carolina, as he was 28-for-34 for 341 yards with a career-high four passing touchdowns to earn ACC Quarterback of the Week honors on Monday. His passing yardage marked the most in the Bill Belichick era for UNC and most since the James Madison game on Sept. 21, 2024.
• North Carolina tight end Jelani Thurman reeled in two of Edwards' touchdown passes and was named to Pro Football Focus' ACC Team of the Week. He finished the game with five catches for 70 yards with two scores, grading out at 88.8 overall.
• For the season, Thurman is third among Power Four tight ends with 38 catches for 461 yards. His six touchdown catches and 240 yards after catch are the second most by a P4 tight end. Thurman's six TD receptions are the second most by a UNC tight end in a single season, two shy of Mike Chatham's program record eight in 1979.
• UNC wide receiver Jordan Shipp was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 10th annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which recognizes leadership, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.
• Sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Lewis was recently named a Sporting News and Associated Press Midseason First Team All-American and a Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List, presented annually to the nation's top college football linemen and linebackers. Lewis ranks ninth nationally with 0.88 sacks per game, while his 1.25 tackles for loss per game is fourth in the conference and 21st in the country.
• The Tar Heels are fourth in the nation in fewest penalty yards with 259 and seventh in the nation in fewest total penalties (34), both of which lead the ACC.
A Win Over UConn Would…
• Give the Tar Heels their third consecutive road win.
• Give Carolina its fourth win against UConn in program history.
• Be the program's second win at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.
• Be Carolina's 760th all-time victory in program history.
Offensive Outburst
• Carolina tallied 407 total yards of offense and tied a season high with 35 points against No. 1 Miami on Saturday.
• The Hurricanes entered the game allowing just 15.3 points per game and 239.1 passing yards, as the Tar Heels recorded a season-high 341 passing yards, the most for the program since the James Madison game in 2024.
• UNC also had a season-best 27 first downs, topping the previous high of 23 from the ETSU game.
Edwards Named ACC Quarterback of the Week
• North Carolina's Billy Edwards Jr. has been named ACC Quarterback of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday.
• Edwards had his best game as a Tar Heel on the biggest stage for Carolina, as he delivered a standout performance against the nation's top-ranked team. He was 28-for-34 for 341 yards with a career-high four passing touchdowns.
• His 82% completion rate was among the best in his collegiate career, and he logged a quarterback rating of 205.4.
• Edwards found nine different receivers in the contest with eight tallying more than one catch. He earned a season-high 87.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus with an 84.7 in the passing game.
UNC-UConn Connections
• Carolina's defensive line coach Bob Diaco was the head coach at UConn from 2014-16, leading the Huskies to the 2015 St. Petersburg Bowl.
• UConn had five players earn American Athletic All-Conference honors during Diaco's tenure.
• Under his direction, UConn finished the 2016 season No. 1 in the nation in fewest penalty yards (339).
• Carolina's offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and UConn's co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Marquel Blackwell were both on the 2023 Texas A&M coaching staff. Petrino was the OC/QBs coach and Blackwell coached the Aggies' running backs.
• UNC tight end Jelani Thurman and UConn wide receiver JD Willoughby played together in high school at Langston Hughes in Fairburn, Georgia.
• Freshman Crew Davis is the lone player on the UNC roster that hails from the state of Connecticut, as he calls Fairfield home.
Last Time Versus UConn
• UNC and UConn last met in the 2024 Fenway Bowl in Boston on Dec. 28 when the Huskies earned a 27-14 win against a depleted Tar Heels team.
• Star running Omarion Hampton did not play in the contest and several starters from the season were also out.
• The Huskies outgained Carolina, 361-206, including 210-96 on the ground.
• Freddie Kitchens was the interim head coach for the game, as Bill Belichick and his staff were hired a few weeks before the bowl game.
• Junior wide receiver Jordan Shipp was a freshman that year and made his first career start in the contest, while defensive backs Kaleb Cost and Tre Miller were the other two players on the 2026 team that played in the bowl game.
Last Time at UConn
• Carolina last traveled to East Hartford, Connecticut, on Sept. 12, 2009, when the Tar Heels earned a 12-10 win against UConn, as UNC defensive end Robert Quinn drew a holding penalty in the end zone with 1:32 left in the game to give the No. 19 Tar Heels a safety and a 12-10 comeback win over the Huskies.
• UNC trailed 10-0 entering the fourth quarter and mounted the comeback behind a 22-yard field goal from Casey Barth, a 2-yard touchdown catch from tight end Zack Pianalto and a safety.
• T.J. Yates was the quarterback for the Tar Heels in that game and completed 23-of-32 passes for 233 yards with a touchdown.
• The Tar Heels had 268 yards of total offense and limited UConn to 196.
Thurman Moving Up UNC Record Books
• Jelani Thurman is having one of the best seasons by a Carolina tight end, as his six receiving touchdowns are the second most in program history for the position behind former All-ACC tight end Mike Chatham's program record eight in 1979.
• His 38 catches this season are the third most by a UNC tight end for a single season behind Eric Ebron with 62 in 2013 and Bryson Nesbit's 41 in 2023.
• Thurman has 461 receiving yards in 2026, the sixth most by a tight end in Tar Heels history.
• He's second among Power Four tight ends with 240 yards after catch and his six receiving TDs. Thurman's 38 receptions and 461 yards are both the third most among P4 tight ends.
Elite Tight End Group
• North Carolina's tight end group has been a major asset for the offense this season, as the position has accounted for eight touchdowns - the most among Power Four tight ends.
• Additionally, Thurman, Shamar Easter, Carson Sneed and Jordan Washington have tallied 651 receiving yards with 358 yards after catch this year, which are both the second most among P4 tight ends.
• The quartet has 51 receptions in 2026, the sixth most among P4 tight ends.
McDonald Having A Breakout Season With UNC
• North Carolina's Derek McDonald has turned in a breakout season for the Tar Heels, as he was recently named a Butkus Award Semifinalist, which annually recognizes the nation's top collegiate linebacker.
• McDonald leads the ACC and ranks fourth nationally in tackles per game with 10.4 and his 83 total tackles are sixth in the nation and best in the conference.
• He has been named ACC Linebacker of the Week twice this season, most recently earning the honor following a career and game-high 16 tackles against Syracuse.
• McDonald graded out at 82.8, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), his highest of the season against his former team. He played 81 of the team's 89 snaps on defense.
• The Atlanta native has tallied 10 or more tackles in six games this season and has led the Tar Heels in tackles in each game.
Dynamic Duo
• McDonald and fellow linebacker Peyton Seelmann have formed the ACC's most prolific duo on defense this season.
• In addition to McDonald's 10.4 tackles per game, Seelmann is third in the conference with 9.1 to rank 22nd nationally.
• McDonald has 83 tackles this season and Seelmann has 73.
• One of the two has led the Tar Heels in tackling every game this year with McDonald leading the way against TCU, Clemson, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse and Miami, while Seelmann paced UNC on defense versus ETSU and Duke.
Smart Football
• Carolina has committed just 34 penalties for 259 yards this season, which is the fourth fewest penalty yardage in the nation.
• The Tar Heels had only three penalties in their season-opening win against TCU, five penalties against ETSU, five at Clemson, three against Notre Dame, three at Pitt, six at Duke, three against Syracuse and six against Miami.
• UNC's 34 penalties are the fewest by an ACC team and seventh fewest nationally.
Red Zone Offense
• Carolina's offense has been strong in the red zone this season, as the Tar Heels rank 14th nationally and second in the ACC with a 93.1% success rate.
• UNC has 27 red zone scores in 29 trips with 20 touchdowns and seven field goals.
• The Tar Heels were 5-for-5 on scoring touchdowns in the red zone against Miami on Saturday.
• Carolina is in its 136th season of football (139th year) in 2026 and the Tar Heels own an all-time record of 759-588-54.
• Carolina will step out of conference play for the final time this season, as the Tar Heels travel to East Hartford, Connecticut, this weekend for a matchup with UConn. Kickoff from Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field is set for noon on CBS Sports with Jordan Kent (PxP), Robert Turbin (Analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (Sideline) on the call.
• UConn and UNC are meeting for the first time since 2024 when the program's met in the Fenway Bowl with the Huskies earning a 27-14 win.
• In their last outing, the Tar Heels played one of their best games of the season, but came up short against the nation's top-ranked Miami Hurricanes, 38-35. Carolina tied a season-high in points scored in the contest, as Miami's defense entered the game limiting opponents to just 15.3 points per game.
• Billy Edwards Jr. had his best game as a Tar Heel on the biggest stage for Carolina, as he was 28-for-34 for 341 yards with a career-high four passing touchdowns to earn ACC Quarterback of the Week honors on Monday. His passing yardage marked the most in the Bill Belichick era for UNC and most since the James Madison game on Sept. 21, 2024.
• North Carolina tight end Jelani Thurman reeled in two of Edwards' touchdown passes and was named to Pro Football Focus' ACC Team of the Week. He finished the game with five catches for 70 yards with two scores, grading out at 88.8 overall.
• For the season, Thurman is third among Power Four tight ends with 38 catches for 461 yards. His six touchdown catches and 240 yards after catch are the second most by a P4 tight end. Thurman's six TD receptions are the second most by a UNC tight end in a single season, two shy of Mike Chatham's program record eight in 1979.
• UNC wide receiver Jordan Shipp was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 10th annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which recognizes leadership, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.
• Sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Lewis was recently named a Sporting News and Associated Press Midseason First Team All-American and a Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List, presented annually to the nation's top college football linemen and linebackers. Lewis ranks ninth nationally with 0.88 sacks per game, while his 1.25 tackles for loss per game is fourth in the conference and 21st in the country.
• The Tar Heels are fourth in the nation in fewest penalty yards with 259 and seventh in the nation in fewest total penalties (34), both of which lead the ACC.
A Win Over UConn Would…
• Give the Tar Heels their third consecutive road win.
• Give Carolina its fourth win against UConn in program history.
• Be the program's second win at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.
• Be Carolina's 760th all-time victory in program history.
Offensive Outburst
• Carolina tallied 407 total yards of offense and tied a season high with 35 points against No. 1 Miami on Saturday.
• The Hurricanes entered the game allowing just 15.3 points per game and 239.1 passing yards, as the Tar Heels recorded a season-high 341 passing yards, the most for the program since the James Madison game in 2024.
• UNC also had a season-best 27 first downs, topping the previous high of 23 from the ETSU game.
Edwards Named ACC Quarterback of the Week
• North Carolina's Billy Edwards Jr. has been named ACC Quarterback of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday.
• Edwards had his best game as a Tar Heel on the biggest stage for Carolina, as he delivered a standout performance against the nation's top-ranked team. He was 28-for-34 for 341 yards with a career-high four passing touchdowns.
• His 82% completion rate was among the best in his collegiate career, and he logged a quarterback rating of 205.4.
• Edwards found nine different receivers in the contest with eight tallying more than one catch. He earned a season-high 87.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus with an 84.7 in the passing game.
UNC-UConn Connections
• Carolina's defensive line coach Bob Diaco was the head coach at UConn from 2014-16, leading the Huskies to the 2015 St. Petersburg Bowl.
• UConn had five players earn American Athletic All-Conference honors during Diaco's tenure.
• Under his direction, UConn finished the 2016 season No. 1 in the nation in fewest penalty yards (339).
• Carolina's offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and UConn's co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Marquel Blackwell were both on the 2023 Texas A&M coaching staff. Petrino was the OC/QBs coach and Blackwell coached the Aggies' running backs.
• UNC tight end Jelani Thurman and UConn wide receiver JD Willoughby played together in high school at Langston Hughes in Fairburn, Georgia.
• Freshman Crew Davis is the lone player on the UNC roster that hails from the state of Connecticut, as he calls Fairfield home.
Last Time Versus UConn
• UNC and UConn last met in the 2024 Fenway Bowl in Boston on Dec. 28 when the Huskies earned a 27-14 win against a depleted Tar Heels team.
• Star running Omarion Hampton did not play in the contest and several starters from the season were also out.
• The Huskies outgained Carolina, 361-206, including 210-96 on the ground.
• Freddie Kitchens was the interim head coach for the game, as Bill Belichick and his staff were hired a few weeks before the bowl game.
• Junior wide receiver Jordan Shipp was a freshman that year and made his first career start in the contest, while defensive backs Kaleb Cost and Tre Miller were the other two players on the 2026 team that played in the bowl game.
Last Time at UConn
• Carolina last traveled to East Hartford, Connecticut, on Sept. 12, 2009, when the Tar Heels earned a 12-10 win against UConn, as UNC defensive end Robert Quinn drew a holding penalty in the end zone with 1:32 left in the game to give the No. 19 Tar Heels a safety and a 12-10 comeback win over the Huskies.
• UNC trailed 10-0 entering the fourth quarter and mounted the comeback behind a 22-yard field goal from Casey Barth, a 2-yard touchdown catch from tight end Zack Pianalto and a safety.
• T.J. Yates was the quarterback for the Tar Heels in that game and completed 23-of-32 passes for 233 yards with a touchdown.
• The Tar Heels had 268 yards of total offense and limited UConn to 196.
Thurman Moving Up UNC Record Books
• Jelani Thurman is having one of the best seasons by a Carolina tight end, as his six receiving touchdowns are the second most in program history for the position behind former All-ACC tight end Mike Chatham's program record eight in 1979.
• His 38 catches this season are the third most by a UNC tight end for a single season behind Eric Ebron with 62 in 2013 and Bryson Nesbit's 41 in 2023.
• Thurman has 461 receiving yards in 2026, the sixth most by a tight end in Tar Heels history.
• He's second among Power Four tight ends with 240 yards after catch and his six receiving TDs. Thurman's 38 receptions and 461 yards are both the third most among P4 tight ends.
Elite Tight End Group
• North Carolina's tight end group has been a major asset for the offense this season, as the position has accounted for eight touchdowns - the most among Power Four tight ends.
• Additionally, Thurman, Shamar Easter, Carson Sneed and Jordan Washington have tallied 651 receiving yards with 358 yards after catch this year, which are both the second most among P4 tight ends.
• The quartet has 51 receptions in 2026, the sixth most among P4 tight ends.
McDonald Having A Breakout Season With UNC
• North Carolina's Derek McDonald has turned in a breakout season for the Tar Heels, as he was recently named a Butkus Award Semifinalist, which annually recognizes the nation's top collegiate linebacker.
• McDonald leads the ACC and ranks fourth nationally in tackles per game with 10.4 and his 83 total tackles are sixth in the nation and best in the conference.
• He has been named ACC Linebacker of the Week twice this season, most recently earning the honor following a career and game-high 16 tackles against Syracuse.
• McDonald graded out at 82.8, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), his highest of the season against his former team. He played 81 of the team's 89 snaps on defense.
• The Atlanta native has tallied 10 or more tackles in six games this season and has led the Tar Heels in tackles in each game.
Dynamic Duo
• McDonald and fellow linebacker Peyton Seelmann have formed the ACC's most prolific duo on defense this season.
• In addition to McDonald's 10.4 tackles per game, Seelmann is third in the conference with 9.1 to rank 22nd nationally.
• McDonald has 83 tackles this season and Seelmann has 73.
• One of the two has led the Tar Heels in tackling every game this year with McDonald leading the way against TCU, Clemson, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse and Miami, while Seelmann paced UNC on defense versus ETSU and Duke.
Smart Football
• Carolina has committed just 34 penalties for 259 yards this season, which is the fourth fewest penalty yardage in the nation.
• The Tar Heels had only three penalties in their season-opening win against TCU, five penalties against ETSU, five at Clemson, three against Notre Dame, three at Pitt, six at Duke, three against Syracuse and six against Miami.
• UNC's 34 penalties are the fewest by an ACC team and seventh fewest nationally.
Red Zone Offense
• Carolina's offense has been strong in the red zone this season, as the Tar Heels rank 14th nationally and second in the ACC with a 93.1% success rate.
• UNC has 27 red zone scores in 29 trips with 20 touchdowns and seven field goals.
• The Tar Heels were 5-for-5 on scoring touchdowns in the red zone against Miami on Saturday.
Players Mentioned
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