UNC at Notre Dame Gameday Live Blog

For the first time in four games, North Carolina takes to the road where they will face off against the once-again-independent and 11th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Tar Heels finished their home stand with a 2-1 record, beating Duke (38-7) and Miami (45-42) with a loss to Florida State (35-25) sandwiched in between. Carolina will be trying to string together back-to-back wins for just the second time this season, with the first such streak coming against Georgia State and Virginia in weeks two and three.

This game could be a historic one for Carolina quarterback Sam Howell and the Tar Heel record book. Howell has been responsible for 99 touchdowns in his career; his 100th will give him more than any Tar Heel in history.

A story line to keep your eyes on are penalties for UNC. In the first five games, Carolina never committed more than seven penalties or were penalized more than 69 yards. Game six? 12 penalties for 110 yards. Game seven? 10 penalties for 102 yards. Curiously, both of those heavily penalized games occurred in Kenan Stadium. Mack Brown’s club needs to get back to playing more disciplined football and that can start this week against the Irish.

Here’s the breakdown of Carolina penalties in the first seven games:

VT – 5 for 44
GA St – 3 for 35
UVA – 7 for 59
GT – 7 for 69
Duke – 5 for 54
FSU – 12 for 110
Miami – 10 for 102

A curious scheduling quirk for Notre Dame: The Irish are facing a team coming off their bye week for the fifth straight game (Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, USC) and have one more such matchup two weeks from now against Virginia. What does that mean for Brian Kelly’s team? In total, six of their 12 regular season games are against teams with two weeks to prepare.

Here’s the full list:

Week off before facing Notre Dame?

FSU - NO
Toledo - NO
Purdue - NO
Wisconsin - YES
Cincinnati - YES
VT - YES
USC - YES
UNC - YES
Navy - NO
UVA - YES
GT - NO
Stanford – NO

Given the aforementioned opportunity for extra preparation on the part of the Tar Heels, be on the lookout for potential changes this week. Will there be any new offensive starters? Will there be new defensive starters? Will Carolina make any scheme adjustments on the offensive line to better protect Sam Howell? Will any of the injured Tar Heels find their way back onto the field? Will the Heels finally find a second reliable receiver?

Tune in on Saturday evening to find out.

TAR HEELS ON OFFENSE

Different week, same story.

Carolina knows what they have in Sam Howell. Carolina knows what they have in Josh Downs.

The question marks come in the form of the nine players surrounding them.

The Tar Heel offensive line, expected to be a strength for the team, has been inconsistent. On three occasions, they’ve allowed two or fewer sacks. In the other four games, however, Howell has gone down four or more times. There really is no rhyme or reason to when these games come. What has the line learned in the past two weeks?

Ty Chandler has been steady at running back, eclipsing 100 all-purpose yards in two of the past three games. Can he continue to deliver on the ground and in the receiving game?

Seemingly the biggest hurdle for the Tar Heel offense is finding a complement to Josh Downs. Khafre Brown entered the transfer portal during the off week. Beau Corrales has been injured all season. It’s time for someone else to stake their claim as the number two receiver.

TAR HEELS ON DEFENSE

The Tar Heel defense is looking to build on their performance against Miami in which they recorded a season-high three interceptions and added three sacks (tied for second-most this season).

Notre Dame’s quarterback is senior Jack Coan, who joins the Irish after four years at Wisconsin. Coan threw for 366 and four touchdowns in the season-opening overtime victory over Florida State. Since then, he’s not thrown for more than 239 yards or two touchdowns. Coan had dealt with an ankle injury and has also ceded time to freshmen Tyler Buchner and Drew Pyne. In total, Coan is 120-for-189 for 1,397 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four picks.

Sophomore Kyren Williams leads the running attack for the Irish, totaling 508 yards and six touchdowns on 121 carries. He has also hauled in 25 receptions for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Buchner is the second-leading rusher with 178 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Coan, though, is not much of a running threat, thankfully for Carolina.

Notre Dame has spread things around in the receiving game. Four different receivers have at least 20 receptions, 240 or more receiving yards, and all four have three touchdowns. Leading the way is tight end Michael Mayer with 37 receptions for 414 yards and three touchdowns.

In addition to Mayer and running back Williams, the names to know of traditional receivers are Kevin Austin, Jr. and Avery Davis.

PREVIOUS GAMES

UNC

L 17-10 | @ Virginia Tech
W 59-17 | vs. Georgia State
W 59-39 | vs. Virginia
L 45-22 | @ Georgia Tech
W 38-7 | vs. Duke
L 35-25 | vs. Florida State
W 45-42 | vs. Miami

NOTRE DAME

W 41-38 | @ Florida State
W 32-29 | vs. Toledo
W 27-13 | vs. Purdue
W 41-13 | vs. (18) Wisconsin
L 24-13 | vs. (7) Cincinnati
W 32-29 | @ Virginia Tech
W 31-16 | vs. Southern California

Here’s all the nitty-gritty details you need to know about Game 8 of the 2021 UNC football season:

North Carolina (4-3, 3-3) vs. No. 11 Notre Dame (6-1)
Notre Dame, IN
Notre Dame Stadium
Saturday, October 30, 2021
7:30pm ET
NBC

All-time Series: Notre Dame leads 19-2
Series Streak: Notre Dame won three in a row
Last Meeting: Friday, November 27, 2020 | Chapel Hill, NC | 31-17 ND
Last Time UNC won: Saturday, October 11, 2008 | Chapel Hill, NC | 29-24 UNC
Last Meeting in Chapel Hill: Friday, November 27, 2020 | Chapel Hill, NC | 31-17 ND

NORTH CAROLINA
Record: 4-3 (4-3 ACC)
Head Coach: Mack Brown (Florida State, '74)
Overall Record: 263-135-1, 33rd year
Record at UNC: 88-59-1, 13th year

NOTRE DAME
Record: 6-1
Head Coach: Brian Kelly (Assumption, ’83)
Overall Record: 279-97-2, 31st year
Record at Notre Dame: 108-40, 12th year

LIVE BLOG

Teams are coming out on the field.
Tar Heels in white uniforms with Carolina blue numbers and Carolina blue helmets.
Notre Dame in navy blue tops with white numbers and gold pants and helmets.

Carolina wins the toss and will kickoff. Touchback, as usual, from Jonathan Kim.

First Quarter

After allowing two first downs, including on 3rd down, Vohasek picks up a sack near midfield and ND will have to punt.

After back-to-back Ty Chandler runs, Carolina takes a timeout on 3rd & 1. After the timeout, Chandler runs for a third straight play and picks up the first down.

Carolina has an almost mirror possesion to Notre Dame - a couple first downs, but stalls out near mid field.

Irish have a great punt return and start with the ball at the UNC 41. ND takes advantage of the field position and pick up the first score of the game. 7-0 ND.

Carolina is making a concerted effort to establish the run. Jones is in at RB in the second series.

4 timeouts already used in the first 14:00 of the game.

41-yard pass gets from Howell to Josh Downs gets the Tar Heels down to the ND 5. Quarter ends with 2nd & goal from the 3 upcoming.

Second Quarter

Pitch to Ty Chandler on the first play of the quarter and he beats the defense to the corner for the first Carolina score. Great response from the Tar Heels. 7-7.

Notre Dame sustains a lengthy drive, but stalls in the red zone. Nice hold from the Tar Heel D and the Irish will have to attempt a field goal. Kick is good. 10-7 Irish.

Antoine Green picks up a great 3rd down reception to keep the Tar Heel drive going. 1st & 10 at the ND 39. Two plays later Downs weaves his way through traffic and Carolina has a first down at the 8.

Holding penalty pushes Carolina way back and they have to settle for a field goal. 10-10.

Each team has had 3 drives and each team has gone punt, touchdown, field goal.

Notre Dame out to midfield with 2:30 left before halftime. Can the Tar Heel defense hold again? Tar Heels get into the backfield on 3rd & 1 and force a 4th down. ND will go for it from the Carolina 36. Pass interference call gives ND new life. TD pass on the next play.

Nice return from Conley puts Carolina in position to be able to make something happen before halftime. 1:15 to go. Heels start on ND 40.

Carolina takes advantage of the field position and get a field goal with :02 left before halftime. Notre Dame will take a 17-13 lead to the locker room.

Even better news is that Carolina deferred and will get the ball back to start the second half.

Third Quarter

The Tar Heels are able to get the bookend score on either side of halftime. Just a few short plays into the second half, Ty Chandler emerges from the line and sprints 53 yards for a touchdown. Heels grab their first lead, 20-17.

Just like the first half, but now in reverse order, ND responds right back with a touchdown of their own.

Heels are pushed back deep in their own territory, but Howell is able to evade pressure and get off a pass for a first down. Upon review however, the knee was down early and Carolina will have to punt on 4th & 1.

Notre Dame's RB Kyren Williams goes down with a potentially bad lower leg injury on the sideline. Hopefully he is okay.

Jack Coan is managing the Notre Dame offense well. Each drive they are methodically working their way down the field.

Two goal-line stops for Carolina brings up 3rd & goal from the 1. Touchdown ND on that 3rd down. 31-20 Irish. That drive chewed up 5:30 of the quarter.

Carolina benefits from a ND penalty (illegal touching of Howell's helmet) and move toward midfield. Two plays later Howell connects on a wheel route to Chandler to the ND 41.

Notre Dame loses Antoine Green in coverage and Howell has an easy throw over the top to him for a walk-in TD. ND still leads, 31-27.

A 3-&-out gets Carolina the ball right back. 2:03 left in the 3rd quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Sam Howell pooch punts to start the quarter. Notre Dame responds by taking a nearly busted play 91 yards for a touchdown.

Danger time for Carolina - Howell throws a pick and ND is quickly into the red zone. Win for the Tar Heels though - they force a field goal.

Tar Heels aren't dead. Sam Howell scrambles for a 31-yard touchdown and it's 41-34 Notre Dame with 7:23 to go.

Notre Dame is sustaining yet another drive, taking precious time off the clock and moving towards another score. Clock is under 4:00 and Notre Dame is on the UNC 11. Have to get a turnover.

Carolina gets to 3rd & 14, but a pass interference on Don Chapman gives ND a first down. 2nd & goal, 3:00 to go. ND connects on a field goal to push back to a 10 point lead. 44-34 Irish with less than 2:00 to go.

An intentional grounding on Sam Howell in the red zone all but ends the game. One more completion down to the 4, but the clock runs out.

Final

Notre Dame 44
North Carolina 34

Add us as a preferred source on Google