University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, September 12
Chapel Hill
Noon
North Carolina
vs
East Tennessee State
Carolina Welcomes East Tennessee State In Home Opener Saturday
September 11, 2026 | Football
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Carolina Football will kick off its 2026 home slate on Saturday, Sept. 12, when the East Tennessee State Buccaneers head to Kenan Stadium. The game is set for noon on ACC Network.
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 756-584-54.
• UNC hosts East Tennessee State in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12, at noon at Kenan Stadium in the first meeting between the programs.
• Saturday's game between the Tar Heels and the Buccaneers will air live on ACC Network with Roxy Bernstein (PxP), Dave Clawson (Analyst) and Madison Hock (Sideline) on the call.
• The Tar Heels opened the season with a 15-10 win against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, to win the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
• Sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Lewis was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game, after recording seven tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Lewis was also tabbed the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week following Week Zero.
• Derek McDonald led the Tar Heels in tackles in their season opener and was selected as the ACC Linebacker of the Week on Aug. 31. He had a game-high 11 tackles with five in the first half and six in the second half of the game.
• Carolina returns a pair of All-ACC Selections from a season ago in defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude (second team) and wide receiver Jordan Shipp (honorable mention). Abou Jaoude ranked fifth nationally and led the ACC in sacks with 10.5 following the regular season.
• Bobby Petrino, one of the nation's top offensive minds, was named the offensive coordinator for the program in January, after spending the past two seasons at Arkansas as the offensive coordinator and interim head coach.
• Carolina Football will celebrate the 100th season of Kenan Stadium during the 2026 season with a series of special events, facility enhancements and fan experiences to honor 100 years of one of the most picturesque athletic venues in the country.
• UNC's coaches, players and home gameday staff will wear a 'JS' patch and helmet decal throughout the season in memory of James Spurling, who worked with the program and passed away in February.
A Win Over ETSU Would…
• Be Carolina's 757th all-time victory in program history.
• Give Carolina a win in its home opener for the seventh time in the last eight years.
• Help Carolina start 2-0 on the year for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
• Give the Tar Heels their 26th consecutive win over an FCS opponent, a streak that dates back to 2000.
• Give UNC its seventh all-time win on Sept. 12, eighth time the Tar Heels have played on that date.
Dominant Defense
• Carolina put together a stellar defensive effort in the 15-10 victory against TCU in the season opener to
snap the Horned Frogs' streak of scoring at least 28 points in 30 straight non-conference regular season games.
• UNC's defense forced three turnovers on downs, recovered a fumble and tallied a safety in a dominant performance.
• The Tar Heels also ended the Horned Frogs' streak of scoring at least 30 points in season openers for 10 straight years. The 10 points were the fewest scored by the Horned Frogs since 2023.
• UNC's 10 points allowed were the fewest against a Power Four Conference opponent since defeating Syracuse, 40-7, on Oct. 7, 2023.
• Carolina held TCU scoreless for the final 49 minutes of the game to open the season with a win.
Lewis, McDonald Earn ACC Weekly Honors
• North Carolina sophomore Xavier Lewis was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, while graduate student Derek McDonald was selected as the ACC Linebacker of the Week, the conference office announced Monday, Aug. 31.
• Lewis turned in the best game of his collegiate career to lead the Tar Heels to a 15-10 win against TCU in Dublin, Ireland. He tallied seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks - each of which was a career high. Lewis made several big-time plays to help Carolina shut out TCU in the final 49 minutes of Saturday's game.
• He graded out at 88.2, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), to lead all defensive players in the game. His 4.5 tackles for loss are the most by a Tar Heel since 2024. Lewis was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
• McDonald had a great Tar Heel debut, as he logged a game-high 11 tackles to lead the Tar Heels. Wearing the green dot and organizing the defense, McDonald registered five tackles in the first half and six in the second half.
First of the Season, First of Career
• Sophomore running back Jaylen McGill scored the first touchdown of the season for the Tar Heels and it was also the first of his collegiate career.
• McGill found the end zone from nine yards out in the first quarter to tie the score at 10-10.
First for Burrell
• Junior kicker Aeron Burrell tallied the first points of 2026 for Carolina, as he split the uprights on a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter of the season opener against TCU.
• In two seasons at LSU before joining UNC, Burrell did not attempt a field goal, but made two field goals in his Tar Heel debut.
• He also handled the punting duties for Carolina, punting three times for 125 yards.
Picking Up Where He Left Off
• Melkart Abou Jaoude picked up where he left off last season against TCU, recording four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
• Abou Jaoude was tabbed the Panini Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 31 for his performance against the Horned Frogs.
• Last season, Abou Jaoude led the ACC following the regular season with 10.5 sacks and was tabbed a Second Team All-ACC Selection.
Player Connections
• North Carolina and East Tennessee State players will see several familiar faces on the opponent sidelines this Saturday in Kenan Stadium.
• UNC wide receiver Jordan Shipp and ETSU quarterback Jadyn Davis played together at Providence Day in Charlotte, winning three state championships together for head coach Chad Grier.
• Tar Heel wide receiver Carnell Warren went to high school with Buccaneers linebacker Jeremiah Curry at Bluffton High School in South Carolina.
• Carolina quarterback Travis Burgess played with ETSU defensive lineman TA Cunningham at Grayson High School in Georgia.
Kenan 100
• Carolina football will celebrate the 100th season of Kenan Stadium during the 2026 season with a series of special events, facility enhancements and fan experiences to honor 100 years of one of the most picturesque athletic venues in the country.
• With the first game in Kenan Stadium on Nov. 24, 1927, Kenan Stadium has hosted 551 football games with the Tar Heels owning a 328-207-16 (.610) record in those contests. UNC has been unbeaten at home in 11 seasons, most recently during the 2015 ACC Coastal Division championship campaign.
• The 100th season celebration will pay tribute to some of the most memorable moments in the history of Kenan Stadium, as well as provide fans with an upgraded experience on gamedays.
• One of the most significant upgrades to Kenan Stadium for the 2026 season will be two new Daktronics videoboards on the east and west end of the stadium. The new displays will measure 31.5 feet high by 106.5 feet wide, which is a notable difference from the current videoboards, featuring eight-millimeter pixel spacing to deliver crisp, clear imagery with wide-angle visibility to appeal to fans in every seat of Kenan Stadium.
• Additionally, nine LED ribbon boards will be installed around the full seating bowl of the stadium to give fans an upgraded experience with statistics and other gameday content rotating on the displays.
• The sound system at Kenan Stadium will also be replaced with state-of-the-art speakers to deliver enhanced vocal clarity and wide coverage throughout the stadium.
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 756-584-54.
• UNC hosts East Tennessee State in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12, at noon at Kenan Stadium in the first meeting between the programs.
• Saturday's game between the Tar Heels and the Buccaneers will air live on ACC Network with Roxy Bernstein (PxP), Dave Clawson (Analyst) and Madison Hock (Sideline) on the call.
• The Tar Heels opened the season with a 15-10 win against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, to win the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
• Sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Lewis was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game, after recording seven tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Lewis was also tabbed the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week following Week Zero.
• Derek McDonald led the Tar Heels in tackles in their season opener and was selected as the ACC Linebacker of the Week on Aug. 31. He had a game-high 11 tackles with five in the first half and six in the second half of the game.
• Carolina returns a pair of All-ACC Selections from a season ago in defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude (second team) and wide receiver Jordan Shipp (honorable mention). Abou Jaoude ranked fifth nationally and led the ACC in sacks with 10.5 following the regular season.
• Bobby Petrino, one of the nation's top offensive minds, was named the offensive coordinator for the program in January, after spending the past two seasons at Arkansas as the offensive coordinator and interim head coach.
• Carolina Football will celebrate the 100th season of Kenan Stadium during the 2026 season with a series of special events, facility enhancements and fan experiences to honor 100 years of one of the most picturesque athletic venues in the country.
• UNC's coaches, players and home gameday staff will wear a 'JS' patch and helmet decal throughout the season in memory of James Spurling, who worked with the program and passed away in February.
A Win Over ETSU Would…
• Be Carolina's 757th all-time victory in program history.
• Give Carolina a win in its home opener for the seventh time in the last eight years.
• Help Carolina start 2-0 on the year for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
• Give the Tar Heels their 26th consecutive win over an FCS opponent, a streak that dates back to 2000.
• Give UNC its seventh all-time win on Sept. 12, eighth time the Tar Heels have played on that date.
Dominant Defense
• Carolina put together a stellar defensive effort in the 15-10 victory against TCU in the season opener to
snap the Horned Frogs' streak of scoring at least 28 points in 30 straight non-conference regular season games.
• UNC's defense forced three turnovers on downs, recovered a fumble and tallied a safety in a dominant performance.
• The Tar Heels also ended the Horned Frogs' streak of scoring at least 30 points in season openers for 10 straight years. The 10 points were the fewest scored by the Horned Frogs since 2023.
• UNC's 10 points allowed were the fewest against a Power Four Conference opponent since defeating Syracuse, 40-7, on Oct. 7, 2023.
• Carolina held TCU scoreless for the final 49 minutes of the game to open the season with a win.
Lewis, McDonald Earn ACC Weekly Honors
• North Carolina sophomore Xavier Lewis was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, while graduate student Derek McDonald was selected as the ACC Linebacker of the Week, the conference office announced Monday, Aug. 31.
• Lewis turned in the best game of his collegiate career to lead the Tar Heels to a 15-10 win against TCU in Dublin, Ireland. He tallied seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks - each of which was a career high. Lewis made several big-time plays to help Carolina shut out TCU in the final 49 minutes of Saturday's game.
• He graded out at 88.2, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), to lead all defensive players in the game. His 4.5 tackles for loss are the most by a Tar Heel since 2024. Lewis was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
• McDonald had a great Tar Heel debut, as he logged a game-high 11 tackles to lead the Tar Heels. Wearing the green dot and organizing the defense, McDonald registered five tackles in the first half and six in the second half.
First of the Season, First of Career
• Sophomore running back Jaylen McGill scored the first touchdown of the season for the Tar Heels and it was also the first of his collegiate career.
• McGill found the end zone from nine yards out in the first quarter to tie the score at 10-10.
First for Burrell
• Junior kicker Aeron Burrell tallied the first points of 2026 for Carolina, as he split the uprights on a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter of the season opener against TCU.
• In two seasons at LSU before joining UNC, Burrell did not attempt a field goal, but made two field goals in his Tar Heel debut.
• He also handled the punting duties for Carolina, punting three times for 125 yards.
Picking Up Where He Left Off
• Melkart Abou Jaoude picked up where he left off last season against TCU, recording four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
• Abou Jaoude was tabbed the Panini Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 31 for his performance against the Horned Frogs.
• Last season, Abou Jaoude led the ACC following the regular season with 10.5 sacks and was tabbed a Second Team All-ACC Selection.
Player Connections
• North Carolina and East Tennessee State players will see several familiar faces on the opponent sidelines this Saturday in Kenan Stadium.
• UNC wide receiver Jordan Shipp and ETSU quarterback Jadyn Davis played together at Providence Day in Charlotte, winning three state championships together for head coach Chad Grier.
• Tar Heel wide receiver Carnell Warren went to high school with Buccaneers linebacker Jeremiah Curry at Bluffton High School in South Carolina.
• Carolina quarterback Travis Burgess played with ETSU defensive lineman TA Cunningham at Grayson High School in Georgia.
Kenan 100
• Carolina football will celebrate the 100th season of Kenan Stadium during the 2026 season with a series of special events, facility enhancements and fan experiences to honor 100 years of one of the most picturesque athletic venues in the country.
• With the first game in Kenan Stadium on Nov. 24, 1927, Kenan Stadium has hosted 551 football games with the Tar Heels owning a 328-207-16 (.610) record in those contests. UNC has been unbeaten at home in 11 seasons, most recently during the 2015 ACC Coastal Division championship campaign.
• The 100th season celebration will pay tribute to some of the most memorable moments in the history of Kenan Stadium, as well as provide fans with an upgraded experience on gamedays.
• One of the most significant upgrades to Kenan Stadium for the 2026 season will be two new Daktronics videoboards on the east and west end of the stadium. The new displays will measure 31.5 feet high by 106.5 feet wide, which is a notable difference from the current videoboards, featuring eight-millimeter pixel spacing to deliver crisp, clear imagery with wide-angle visibility to appeal to fans in every seat of Kenan Stadium.
• Additionally, nine LED ribbon boards will be installed around the full seating bowl of the stadium to give fans an upgraded experience with statistics and other gameday content rotating on the displays.
• The sound system at Kenan Stadium will also be replaced with state-of-the-art speakers to deliver enhanced vocal clarity and wide coverage throughout the stadium.
Players Mentioned
Defensive Line
/ Football
Quarterback
/ Football
Kicker
/ Football
Defensive Line
/ Football
Linebacker
/ Football
Running Back
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ FootballSaturday, September 12
Friday, September 11
Friday, September 11
Wednesday, September 09