# 2020 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

The 2020 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels were led by head coach Mack Brown, in the second season of his second stint at North Carolina and his 12th overall season. The team played their home games at Kenan Stadium.
Building on the momentum from the first season of Brown's return to Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels finished in a three-way tie for third place in the ACC. Divisional play had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With Clemson and Notre Dame selected for the College Football Playoff, the Tar Heels received a bid to the Orange Bowl, their first appearance in a major bowl since 1949.

## Schedule

North Carolina had games scheduled against Auburn, James Madison, UConn and UCF, which were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 17, Charlotte announced the game at North Carolina scheduled for September 19 was canceled due to the impact that contact tracing quarantine had on a key position group. Several members of the Charlotte offensive line were placed into quarantine following the University's COVID-19 contact tracing protocols, effectively depleting that unit. On November 16, it was announced that the games with Miami and Western Carolina would be swapped due to COVID-19 issues with the Hurricanes. The Tar Heels will play the Catamounts on December 5 and Miami a week later on December 12.
The ACC released their schedule on July 29, with specific dates selected at a later date.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 12 | 12:00 p.m. | Syracuse | No. 18 | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ACCN | W 31–6 | 0 |
| October 3 | 3:30 p.m. | at Boston College | No. 12 | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA | ABC | W 26–22 | 0 |
| October 10 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 19 Virginia Tech | No. 8 | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ABC | W 56–45 | 3,535 |
| October 17 | 7:30 p.m. | at Florida State | No. 5 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | ABC | L 28–31 | 18,016 |
| October 24 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 23 NC State | No. 14 | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC (rivalry) | ESPN | W 48–21 | 3,535 |
| October 31 | 8:00 p.m. | at Virginia | No. 15 | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA (South's Oldest Rivalry) | ACCN | L 41–44 | 1,000 |
| November 7 | 12:00 p.m. | at Duke | | Wallace Wade StadiumDurham, NC (Victory Bell) | ESPN2 | W 56–24 | 0 |
| November 14 | 12:00 p.m. | Wake Forest | | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC (rivalry) | ACCN | W 59–53 | 3,535 |
| November 27 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 2 Notre Dame | No. 19 | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC (rivalry) | ABC | L 17–31 | 3,535 |
| December 5 | 12:00 p.m. | Western Carolina* | No. 17 | Kenan StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ACCN | W 49–9 | 3,535 |
| December 12 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 10 Miami (FL) | No. 17 | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL | ABC | W 62–26 | 12,092 |
| January 2 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 5 Texas A&M* | No. 13 | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL (Orange Bowl) | ESPN | L 27–41 | 13,737 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | 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 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | 18 | 18* | 12 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 14T | 15 | RV | RV | RV | 25 | RV | 20 | 16 | 14 | 18 |
| Coaches | 19 | 19* | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 24 | RV | 24 | 23 | RV | 20 | 15 | 14 | 17 |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | Not released |

## Game summaries
### Syracuse

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Orange | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| • No. 18 Tar Heels | 7 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC −24 | 67 |
| Statistics | Syracuse | North Carolina |
| First downs | 15 | 23 |
| Total yards | 202 | 463 |
| Rushing yards | 68 | 160 |
| Passing yards | 134 | 303 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 27:50 | 32:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Syracuse | Passing | Tommy DeVito | 13/31, 112 yards |
| Syracuse | Rushing | Tommy DeVito | 16 carries, 30 yards |
| Syracuse | Receiving | Taj Harris | 5 receptions, 64 yards |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 25/34, 295 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Michael Carter | 7 carries, 78 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dyami Brown | 6 receptions, 94 yards |

### At Boston College

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 12 Tar Heels | 14 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 26 |
| Eagles | 3 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 22 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC −14.5 | 52.5 |
| Statistics | North Carolina | Boston College |
| First downs | 24 | 22 |
| Total yards | 401 | 353 |
| Rushing yards | 176 | 40 |
| Passing yards | 225 | 313 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:57 | 31:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 14/26, 225 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Michael Carter | 16 carries, 121 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dyami Brown | 4 receptions, 60 yards |
| Boston College | Passing | Phil Jurkovec | 37/56, 313 yards, 2 TDs |
| Boston College | Rushing | David Bailey | 7 carries, 28 yards |
| Boston College | Receiving | Hunter Long | 9 receptions, 96 yards |

### Virginia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 19 Hokies | 0 | 14 | 23 | 8 | 45 |
| • No. 8 Tar Heels | 21 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 56 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC −3.5 | 58.5 |
| Statistics | Virginia Tech | North Carolina |
| First downs | 25 | 31 |
| Total yards | 495 | 656 |
| Rushing yards | 260 | 399 |
| Passing yards | 235 | 257 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 32:06 | 27:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 7/13, 136 yards, 2 TDs |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Khalil Herbert | 18 carries, 138 yards, 2 TDs |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | James Mitchell | 4 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 18/23, 257 yards, 3 TDs |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Michael Carter | 17 carries, 214 yards, 2 TDs |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dyami Brown | 3 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Florida State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Tar Heels | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| • Seminoles | 7 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC −13.5 | 65 |
| Statistics | North Carolina | Florida State |
| First downs | 27 | 16 |
| Total yards | 558 | 432 |
| Rushing yards | 184 | 241 |
| Passing yards | 374 | 191 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:51 | 26:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 20/36, 374 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Javonte Williams | 18 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Beau Corrales | 4 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD |
| Florida State | Passing | Jordan Travis | 8/19, 191 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Florida State | Rushing | La'Damian Webb | 12 carries, 109 yards |
| Florida State | Receiving | Ontaria Wilson | 2 receptions, 61 yards |

### NC State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 23 Wolfpack | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| • No. 14 Tar Heels | 7 | 10 | 21 | 10 | 48 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC −15 | 61.5 |
| Statistics | NC State | North Carolina |
| First downs | 23 | 34 |
| Total yards | 392 | 578 |
| Rushing yards | 34 | 326 |
| Passing yards | 358 | 252 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 20:52 | 39:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| NC State | Passing | Bailey Hockman | 14/24, 215 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| NC State | Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 9 carries, 41 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 4 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 18/29, 252 yards, 1 TD |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Javonte Williams | 19 carries, 160 yards, 3 TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dyami Brown | 7 receptions, 105 yards |

### At Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 15 Tar Heels | 10 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 41 |
| • Cavaliers | 13 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 44 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC −8 | 60.5 |
| Statistics | North Carolina | Virginia |
| First downs | 24 | 28 |
| Total yards | 536 | 418 |
| Rushing yards | 93 | 210 |
| Passing yards | 443 | 208 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:26 | 34:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 23/28, 443 yards, 4 TDs |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Michael Carter | 9 carries, 64 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dyami Brown | 11 receptions, 240 yards, 3 TDs |
| Virginia | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 12/22, 208 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Virginia | Rushing | Shane Simpson | 8 carries, 70 yards |
| Virginia | Receiving | Shane Simpson | 1 reception, 71 yards, 1 TD |

### At Duke

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Tar Heels | 21 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 56 |
| Blue Devils | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC −11.5 | 63.5 |
| Statistics | North Carolina | Duke |
| First downs | 30 | 26 |
| Total yards | 573 | 411 |
| Rushing yards | 338 | 185 |
| Passing yards | 235 | 226 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:56 | 29:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 18/27, 235 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Javonte Williams | 12 carries, 151 yards, 3 TDs |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Emery Simmons | 2 receptions, 67 yards |
| Duke | Passing | Chase Brice | 11/23, 155 yards, 1 INT |
| Duke | Rushing | Mataeo Durant | 11 carries, 132 yards, 1 TD |
| Duke | Receiving | Darrell Harding Jr. | 5 receptions, 70 yards |

### Wake Forest

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demon Deacons | 14 | 21 | 10 | 8 | 53 |
| • Tar Heels | 17 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 59 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC −12.5 | 70.5 |
| Statistics | Wake Forest | North Carolina |
| First downs | 30 | 30 |
| Total yards | 606 | 742 |
| Rushing yards | 177 | 192 |
| Passing yards | 429 | 550 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:48 | 31:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Wake Forest | Passing | Sam Hartman | 29/45, 429 yards, 4 TDs |
| Wake Forest | Rushing | Christian Beal-Smith | 17 carries, 120 yards |
| Wake Forest | Receiving | Donavon Greene | 8 receptions, 170 yards, 2 TDs |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 32/45, 550 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Javonte Williams | 13 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dazz Newsome | 10 receptions, 189 yards, 2 TDs |

### Notre Dame

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 2 Fighting Irish | 14 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| No. 19 Tar Heels | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC +4.5 | 69.5 |
| Statistics | Notre Dame | North Carolina |
| First downs | 25 | 14 |
| Total yards | 478 | 298 |
| Rushing yards | 199 | 87 |
| Passing yards | 279 | 211 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 35:04 | 24:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Notre Dame | Passing | Ian Book | 23/33, 279 yards, 1 TD |
| Notre Dame | Rushing | Kyren Williams | 23 carries, 124 yards, 2 TDs |
| Notre Dame | Receiving | Javon McKinley | 6 receptions, 135 yards |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 17/27, 211 yards, 1 TD |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Michael Carter | 8 carries, 57 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dyami Brown | 4 receptions, 84 yards |

### Western Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Catamounts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| • No. 17 Tar Heels | 21 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 49 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC −49.5 | 70 |
| Statistics | Western Carolina | North Carolina |
| First downs | 13 | 31 |
| Total yards | 253 | 540 |
| Rushing yards | 137 | 231 |
| Passing yards | 116 | 309 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 31:44 | 28:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Carolina | Passing | Will Jones | 7/14, 55 yards |
| Western Carolina | Rushing | Donnavan Spencer | 13 carries, 52 yards |
| Western Carolina | Receiving | Owen Cosenke | 2 receptions, 44 yards |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 20/23, 287 yards, 2 TDs |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Michael Carter | 8 carries, 73 yards, 3 TDs |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dazz Newsome | 6 receptions, 82 yards, 1 TD |

### At Miami (FL)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 17 Tar Heels | 21 | 13 | 7 | 21 | 62 |
| No. 10 Hurricanes | 3 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 26 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC +3 | 72 |
| Statistics | North Carolina | Miami (FL) |
| First downs | 31 | 15 |
| Total yards | 778 | 314 |
| Rushing yards | 554 | 75 |
| Passing yards | 224 | 239 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 40:19 | 19:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 14/19, 223 yards, 1 TD |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Michael Carter | 24 carries, 308 yards, 2 TDs |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dyami Brown | 4 receptions, 167 yards |
| Miami (FL) | Passing | D'Eriq King | 18/30, 239 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Miami (FL) | Rushing | D'Eriq King | 11 carries, 53 yards |
| Miami (FL) | Receiving | Brevin Jordan | 6 receptions, 140 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Texas A&M (Orange Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 5 Aggies | 7 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 41 |
| No. 13 Tar Heels | 3 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NC +10 | 65.5 |
| Statistics | Texas A&M | North Carolina |
| First downs | 19 | 18 |
| Total yards | 457 | 324 |
| Rushing yards | 225 | 90 |
| Passing yards | 232 | 234 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 32:13 | 27:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas A&M | Passing | Kellen Mond | 16/26, 232 yards |
| Texas A&M | Rushing | De’Von Achane | 12 carries, 140 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas A&M | Receiving | Ainias Smith | 6 receptions, 125 yards |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 18/31, 234 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| North Carolina | Rushing | British Brooks | 15 carries, 53 yards |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Josh Downs | 4 receptions, 91 yards, 2 TDs |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
| 2 | 35 | Javonte Williams | RB | Denver Broncos |
| 3 | 78 | Chazz Surratt | ILB | 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 |