LIVE GAME THREAD: UNC Takes Stanford in Homecoming Clash

North Carolina returns home Saturday to host Stanford at Kenan Stadium, with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on The CW.

North Carolina is coming off a 27-10 win at Syracuse last Friday. The Tar Heels (3-5, 1-3 ACC) overcame a slow start and trailed 10-6 at halftime before scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half to secure their most convincing victory of the season. Syracuse (3-6, 1-4 ACC) struggled in the passing game and did not complete a pass until midway through the second quarter, a shortcoming that proved pivotal in the result.

Stanford, meanwhile, enters after a 35-20 home loss to Pittsburgh and has dropped four of its last five games.

North Carolina is 3-5 overall and 1-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Stanford sits at 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the ACC.

FIrst Quarter

Under 7:00 - North Carolina 0, Stanford 0

UNC linebacker Andrew Simpson strip sacks Stanford quarterback Elijah Brown and Smith Vilbert picked it up and was tackled at Stanford's 10-yard line.

5:49 North Carolina 3, Stanford 0

North Carolina takes the lead after a 27-yard field goal from Rece Verhoff.

End of 1st Quarter North Carolina 3, Stanford 0

2nd Quarter

6:11 North Carolina 3, Stanford 0

After Gio Lopez got strip sacked by Stanford linebacker Matt Rose and the Cardinal recovered it, the defense held strong and forced a stop on 3rd and short. The Cardinal's field goal attempt was no good.

0:00 North Carolina 3, Stanford 3

Stanford ties it up with a 38-yard field goal. The drive lasted a little over 4 minutes (16 plays.)

HALFTIME North Carolina 3, Stanford 3

3rd Quarter

7:43 North Carolina 10, Stanford 3

Gio Lopez connected with Davion Gause on a perfectly executed 20-yard touchdown pass, hitting him in stride on a well-designed wheel route. Gause’s crisp route running allowed him to separate from the defender and make the grab in the end zone. The Tar Heels orchestrated an impressive 12-play, 75-yard drive to find the end zone for the first time in the game. Notably, before this scoring drive, UNC had managed just 47 total yards of offense.

1:08 North Carolina 10, Stanford 3

North Carolina linebacker Khmori House intercepts Elijah Brown's pass and returns it 21 yards to Stanford's 21-yard line. However, Andrew Simpson is called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, pushing the Tar Heels back 15 yards.

End of 3rd Quarter - North Carolina 10, Stanford

4th Quarter

14:16 North Carolina 13, Stanford 3

Rece Verhoff nails a 48-yard field goal.

12:04 North Carolina 20, Stanford 3

That was the dagger. Despite heavy pressure, Gio Lopez delivered a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Shipp. Shipp caught the ball, took advantage when his defender slipped, reversed field, broke several tackles and reached the end zone.

8:28 North Carolina 20, Stanford 9

Stanford running back Cole Tabb scores on a 1-yard touchdown run. Two-point conversion fails.

1:48 North Carolina 20, Stanford 15

Elijah Brown connects with CJ Williams on a 24-yard touchdown reception. However, Stanford's two-point conversion fails.