# 2021 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

The 2021 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels were led by head coach Mack Brown, who was in the third season of his second stint at North Carolina and his 13th overall season at the university. The team played their home games at Kenan Stadium.

## Offseason
### Coaching changes

Larry Porter was hired in January for his second stint as the Tar Heels' running backs coach, replacing Robert Gillespie, who departed for the same position at Alabama. Porter's first tenure at UNC came under previous head coach Larry Fedora from 2014–2016. He was also given the title of Assistant Special teams coordinator. Former Tar Heel and NFL running back Natrone Means was also hired in the offseason as an offensive analyst.

### Departures
#### NFL Draft

The following Tar Heels were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
| 2 | 35 | Javonte Williams | RB | Denver Broncos |
| 3 | 78 | Chazz Surratt | LB | Minnesota Vikings |
| 3 | 82 | Dyami Brown | WR | Washington Football Team |
| 4 | 107 | Michael Carter | RB | New York Jets |
| 6 | 221 | Dazz Newsome | WR | Chicago Bears |

#### Transfers

The Tar Heels lost sixteen players from the 2020 season.
| Name | No. | Pos. | Height | Weight | Hometown | Year | New school |
| Bryson Richardson | #6 | DB | 6’0 | 203 | Lawrenceville, GA | Sophomore | UMass |
| Myles Wolfolk | #11 | DB | 5’11 | 205 | Largo, MD | Senior† | Bowie State |
| Billy Ross | #56 | OL | 6’5 | 315 | Huntington, WV | Junior | Marshall |
| DJ Ford | #16 | S | 6’3 | 208 | Ashland, AL | Senior† | ECU |
| Bryce Watts | #2 | DB | 6’0 | 180 | Toms River, NJ | Junior | UMass |
| Xach Gill | #90 | DT | 6’5 | 290 | Wake Forest, NC | Junior | Temple |
| Jace Ruder | #10 | QB | 6’3 | 228 | Norton, KS | Sophomore | North Texas |
| Noah Ruggles | #97 | PK | 6’2 | 195 | Odessa, FL | Junior | Ohio State |
| Triston Miller | #71 | OL | 6'5 | 290 | Charlotte, NC | Freshman | Arizona State |
| Lancine Turay | #58 | DT | 6’6 | 270 | Newark, NJ | Sophomore | Temple |
| Rontavius Groves | #4 | WR | 5’11 | 180 | Nashville, TN | Junior | Texas State |
| Patrice Rene | #5 | DB | 6’2 | 205 | Ottawa, ON | Senior† | Rutgers |
| Ray Rose | #9 | WR | 6’1 | 215 | Belmont, NC | Freshman | ECU |
| Khadry Jackson | #8 | LB | 6’1 | 230 | Orlando, FL | Junior | Georgia Southern |
| Welton Spottsville | #14 | DB | 6’0 | 220 | Havelock, NC | Sophomore | Kennesaw State |
| AJ Beatty | #54 | OL | 6’5 | 300 | Pittsburgh, PA | Freshman | Albany |
†Denotes player who was listed as a senior by UNC, and chose to transfer elsewhere for the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

### Additions
#### Incoming transfers

| Name | No. | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Prev. school |
| Ty Chandler | #19 | RB | 6'0 | 205 | Graduate | Nashville, TN | Tennessee |

#### Recruiting class

North Carolina signed 19 players in the 2021 class. The Tar Heels' class finished 14th in the 247Sports football recruiting rankings, 16th in the Rivals rankings, and 7th in the ESPN recruiting rankings. Eleven signees were ranked in the ESPN 300 top prospect list.
College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Keeshawn Silver DL | Rocky Mount, NC | Rocky Mount | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | Mar 3, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 90 ||||||
| Drake Maye QB | Charlotte, NC | Myers Park | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Mar 6, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 86 ||||||
| Raneiria Dillworth LB | Kernersville, NC | Glenn | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | Apr 17, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 85 ||||||
| Power Echols LB | Charlotte, NC | Julius L. Chambers | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 206 lb (93 kg) | Jan 25, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 ||||||
| Gavin Blackwell WR | Monroe, NC | Sun Valley | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | Feb 10, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 ||||||
| Tymir Brown DB | Jacksonville, NC | Jacksonville | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | Mar 17, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 ||||||
| Kamarro Edmonds RB | Havelock, NC | Havelock | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Apr 3, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 ||||||
| DeAndre Boykins DB | Concord, NC | Central Cabarrus | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Mar 18, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 ||||||
| Dontavius Nash DB | Gastonia, NC | Hunter Huss | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Jun 15, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 ||||||
| Diego Pounds OL | Raleigh, NC | Millbrook | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | Sep 25, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 81 ||||||
| Jahvaree Ritzie DL | Kernersville, NC | Glenn | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | Jun 12, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 81 ||||||
| Kobe Paysour WR | Kings Mountain, NC | Kings Mountain | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Mar 7, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 80 ||||||
| Gabe Stephens LB | Mount Holly, NC | Mountain Island Charter | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Feb 7, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 80 ||||||
| Eli Sutton OL | Brentwood, TN | Brentwood Academy | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | Mar 8, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 80 ||||||
| Dontae Balfour DB | Starke, FL | Bradford | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 79 ||||||
| Trevion Stevenson EDGE | Hampton, VA | Phoebus | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Jul 18, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 79 ||||||
| Bryson Nesbit TE | Charlotte, NC | South Mecklenburg | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Dec 1, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 79 ||||||
| JJ Jones WR | Myrtle Beach, SC | Myrtle Beach | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | May 21, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 79 ||||||
| Caleb Hood RB | Rockingham, NC | Richmond Senior | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Jun 12, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 76 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: #16 247Sports: #14 ESPN: #7 ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Rivals commits". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 2, 2021. "ESPN commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 2, 2021. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 2, 2021. "247Sports commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved November 2, 2021. ||||||

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 6:00 p.m. | at Virginia Tech | No. 10 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ESPN | L 10–17 | 65,632 |
| September 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Georgia State* | No. 24 | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ACCRSN | W 59–17 | 50,500 |
| September 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Virginia | No. 21 | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC (South's Oldest Rivalry) | ACCN | W 59–39 | 50,500 |
| September 25 | 7:30 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | No. 21 | Mercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta, GA | ACCN | L 22–45 | 37,450 |
| October 2 | 12:00 p.m. | Duke | | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC (Victory Bell) | ESPN2 | W 38–7 | 45,812 |
| October 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Florida State | | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ESPN | L 25–35 | 44,805 |
| October 16 | 3:30 p.m. | Miami | | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ACCN | W 45–42 | 50,500 |
| October 30 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 11 Notre Dame* | | Notre Dame StadiumNotre Dame, IN (rivalry) | NBC | L 34–44 | 71,018 |
| November 6 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 9 Wake Forest* | | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC (rivalry) | ABC | W 58–55 | 50,500 |
| November 11 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 21 Pittsburgh | | Heinz FieldPittsburgh, PA | ESPN | L 23–30 $^{OT}$ | 41,687 |
| November 20 | 12:00 p.m. | Wofford* | | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ACCRSN | W 34–14 | 43,011 |
| November 26 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 20 NC State | | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC (rivalry) | ESPN | L 30–34 | 56,919 |
| December 30 | 11:30 a.m. | vs. South Carolina * | | Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC (Duke's Mayo Bowl) | ESPN | L 21–38 | 45,520 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP and CFP Rankings after November 2All times are in Eastern time ||||||||
^ The game against Wake Forest, a fellow member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, was played as a non-conference game and did not count in the league standings. This was done because the two rivals otherwise only play once every six years due to conference divisional alignment.
^ The Duke's Mayo Bowl was the 59th edition of the North Carolina–South Carolina football rivalry. The two teams are next scheduled to kick off the 2023 season, also at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

## Game summaries
### At Virginia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 10 Tar Heels | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| • Hokies | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −5.5 | 64 |
| Statistics | UNC | VT |
| First downs | 18 | 17 |
| Total yards | 354 | 296 |
| Rushing yards | 146 | 127 |
| Passing yards | 208 | 169 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 25:03 | 34:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 17/32, 208 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Ty Chandler | 10 carries, 66 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Josh Downs | 8 receptions, 123 yards, TD |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Braxton Burmeister | 12/19, 169 yards, TD, INT |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Jalen Holston | 13 carries, 49 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Raheem Blackshear | 3 receptions, 66 yards |

### Georgia State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| • No. 24 Tar Heels | 14 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 59 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −25.5 | 64.5 |
| Statistics | GSU | UNC |
| First downs | 16 | 28 |
| Total yards | 271 | 607 |
| Rushing yards | 181 | 201 |
| Passing yards | 90 | 406 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:17 | 29:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 12/26, 68 yards, INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Darren Grainger | 5 carries, 56 yards |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Jamari Thrash | 2 receptions, 18 yards |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 21/29, 352 yards, 3 TD |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Sam Howell | 11 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Antoine Green | 3 receptions, 117 yards, TD |

### Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cavaliers | 7 | 21 | 3 | 8 | 39 |
| • No. 21 Tar Heels | 21 | 3 | 21 | 14 | 59 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −9 | 65 |
| Statistics | UVA | UNC |
| First downs | 27 | 35 |
| Total yards | 577 | 699 |
| Rushing yards | 24 | 392 |
| Passing yards | 553 | 307 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:41 | 27:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Virginia | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 39/54, 554 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Virginia | Rushing | Jacob Rodriguez | 3 carries, 14 yards |
| Virginia | Receiving | Dontayvion Wicks | 7 receptions, 183 yards, TD |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 14/21, 307 yards, 5 TD, INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Ty Chandler | 20 carries, 198 yards, 2 TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Josh Downs | 8 receptions, 203 yards, 2 TD |

### At Georgia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 21 Tar Heels | 7 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 22 |
| • Yellow Jackets | 0 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −13 | 70.5 |
| Statistics | UNC | GT |
| First downs | 18 | 19 |
| Total yards | 369 | 394 |
| Rushing yards | 63 | 261 |
| Passing yards | 306 | 133 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:05 | 29:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 25/39, 306 yards, 2 TD |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Ty Chandler | 17 carries, 48 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Emery Simmons | 3 receptions, 110 yards |
| Georgia Tech | Passing | Jeff Sims | 10/13, 112 yards, TD |
| Georgia Tech | Rushing | Jeff Sims | 10 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD |
| Georgia Tech | Receiving | Malachi Carter | 3 receptions, 48 yards, TD |

### Duke

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Devils | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • Tar Heels | 7 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −20 | 72.5 |
| Statistics | Duke | UNC |
| First downs | 15 | 21 |
| Total yards | 314 | 456 |
| Rushing yards | 130 | 135 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 321 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:18 | 32:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Duke | Passing | Gunnar Holmberg | 17/24, 184 yards, TD, INT |
| Duke | Rushing | Mataeo Durant | 19 carries, 114 yards |
| Duke | Receiving | Jalon Calhoun | 6 receptions, 103 yards, TD |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 18/32, 321 yards, 3 TD |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Ty Chandler | 12 carries, 53 yards, TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Josh Downs | 8 receptions, 168 yards, TD |

### Florida State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Seminoles | 0 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| Tar Heels | 10 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 25 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −16.5 | 63.5 |
| Statistics | FSU | UNC |
| First downs | 22 | 27 |
| Total yards | 383 | 432 |
| Rushing yards | 238 | 229 |
| Passing yards | 145 | 203 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:48 | 30:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Florida State | Passing | Jordan Travis | 11/13, 145 yards, 3 TD |
| Florida State | Rushing | Jordan Travis | 14 carries, 121 yards, 2 TD |
| Florida State | Receiving | Keyshawn Helton | 3 receptions, 71 yards |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 17/32, 203 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Sam Howell | 11 carries, 108 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Josh Downs | 9 receptions, 121 yards, TD |

### Miami

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hurricanes | 10 | 7 | 17 | 8 | 42 |
| • Tar Heels | 14 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −7 | 63 |
| Statistics | Miami | UNC |
| First downs | 30 | 23 |
| Total yards | 421 | 382 |
| Rushing yards | 157 | 228 |
| Passing yards | 264 | 154 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:09 | 33:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Miami | Passing | Tyler Van Dyke | 20/45, 264 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Miami | Rushing | Jaylan Knighton | 17 carries, 92 yards, 2 TD |
| Miami | Receiving | Keyshawn Smith | 7 receptions, 73 yards |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 17/26, 154 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Ty Chandler | 18 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Josh Downs | 11 receptions, 96 yards, TD |

### At No. 11 Notre Dame

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tar Heels | 0 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 34 |
| • No. 11 Fighting Irish | 7 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 44 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ND −3.5 | 62.5 |
| Statistics | UNC | ND |
| First downs | 28 | 28 |
| Total yards | 564 | 523 |
| Rushing yards | 223 | 293 |
| Passing yards | 341 | 230 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:15 | 29:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UNC | Passing | Sam Howell | 24/31, 341 yards, TD, INT |
| UNC | Rushing | Sam Howell | 18 carries, 101 yards, TD |
| UNC | Receiving | Josh Downs | 10 receptions, 142 yards |
| Notre Dame | Passing | Jack Coan | 16/24, 213 yards, TD |
| Notre Dame | Rushing | Kyren Williams | 22 carries, 199 yards, TD |
| Notre Dame | Receiving | Avery Davis | 5 receptions, 51 yards, TD |

### No. 9 Wake Forest

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 9 Demon Deacons | 10 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 55 |
| • Tar Heels | 14 | 10 | 10 | 24 | 58 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −2.5 | 75.5 |
| Statistics | Wake | UNC |
| First downs | 35 | 31 |
| Total yards | 615 | 546 |
| Rushing yards | 217 | 330 |
| Passing yards | 398 | 216 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 26:27 | 33:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Wake Forest | Passing | Sam Hartman | 25/51, 398 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT |
| Wake Forest | Rushing | Justice Ellison | 13 carries, 81 yards |
| Wake Forest | Receiving | Jaquarii Roberson | 7 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TD |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 16/26, 216 yards, TD |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Ty Chandler | 22 carries, 213 yards, 4 TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Antoine Green | 6 receptions, 83 yards, TD |

### At No. 25 Pittsburgh

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Tar Heels | 0 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 23 |
| • No. 25 Panthers | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| PITT −6.5 | 73 |
| Statistics | UNC | PITT |
| First downs | 16 | 25 |
| Total yards | 384 | 441 |
| Rushing yards | 88 | 95 |
| Passing yards | 296 | 346 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:11 | 25:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 22/33, 296 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Ty Chandler | 14 carries, 42 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Antoine Green | 3 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD |
| Pittsburgh | Passing | Kenny Pickett | 25/43, 346 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Pittsburgh | Rushing | Israel Abanikanda | 12 carries, 63 yards |
| Pittsburgh | Receiving | Jordan Addison | 6 receptions, 84 yards |

### Wofford

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Terriers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| • Tar Heels | 10 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −38.5 | 64.5 |
| Statistics | WOF | UNC |
| First downs | 18 | 30 |
| Total yards | 302 | 519 |
| Rushing yards | 209 | 305 |
| Passing yards | 93 | 214 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:18 | 28:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Wofford | Passing | Peyton Derrick | 8/10, 93 yards, INT |
| Wofford | Rushing | Peyton Derrick | 8 carries, 69 yards |
| Wofford | Receiving | Jim Welsh | 3 receptions, 42 yards |
| North Carolina | Passing | Jacolby Criswell | 11/19, 125 yards |
| North Carolina | Rushing | British Brooks | 7 carries, 89 yards, 2 TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Josh Downs | 8 receptions, 89 yards |

### At No. 20 N.C. State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tar Heels | 0 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 30 |
| • No. 20 Wolfpack | 14 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NCSU −7 | 63.5 |
| Statistics | UNC | NCSU |
| First downs | 22 | 21 |
| Total yards | 444 | 360 |
| Rushing yards | 297 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 147 | 247 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:23 | 30:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 14/26, 147 yards, TD, INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | British Brooks | 15 carries, 124 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Josh Downs | 8 receptions, 75 yards |
| N.C. State | Passing | Devin Leary | 19/30, 247 yards, 4 TD |
| N.C. State | Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 9 carries, 69 yards |
| N.C. State | Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 5 receptions, 112 yards, 2 TD |

### Vs. South Carolina (Duke's Mayo Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tar Heels | 0 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 21 |
| • Gamecocks | 18 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNC −9.5 | 57 |
| Statistics | UNC | USC |
| First downs | 14 | 27 |
| Total yards | 333 | 543 |
| Rushing yards | 128 | 301 |
| Passing yards | 205 | 242 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 20:58 | 39:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 12/20, 205 yards, TD |
| North Carolina | Rushing | British Brooks | 5 carries, 72 yards, TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Antoine Green | 4 receptions, 73 yards |
| South Carolina | Passing | Dakereon Joyner | 9/9, 160 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Kevin Harris | 31 carries, 182 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Jaheim Bell | 5 receptions, 159 yards, 2 TD |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 10 | 24 | 21 | 21 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | 9 | 22 | 19 | 20 | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 3 | 67 | Joshua Ezeudu | OG | New York Giants |
| 5 | 144 | Sam Howell | QB | Washington Commanders |
| 5 | 169 | Ty Chandler | RB | Minnesota Vikings |
| 5 | 173 | Marcus McKethan | OG | New York Giants |