North Carolina vs. UCF Postgame Notes

Posted Sep 21, 2025
Bill Belichick is 2-2 as a college head football coach. North Carolina Football has now played 56 of a possible 66 Power Four opponents. This was the first ever meeting between North Carolina and UCF. The program’s previously scheduled contests in 2018 (hurricane) and 2020 (Covid) were canceled. The Tar Heels are 0-8 vs. Big 12 opponents.

Offensive

• Demon June led the Tar Heels with 50 yards rushing on 10 carries. June has paced Carolina in rushing the last three games.

• Offensive lineman Austin Blaske made his season debut on Saturday, earning the start at left tackle. The 2025 Rimington Trophy Watch List member started 12 games a season ago for the Tar Heels.

• Wide receiver Shanard Clower made his first collegiate catch in the second quarter, on an 11-yard reception. Clower finished with four catches for 34 yards on the day.

• Kobe Paysour’s third-quarter touchdown catch was his first catch of the season. It was the eighth touchdown of Paysour’s career.

• Max Johnson entered the game at quarterback for the Tar Heels in the third quarter.

• Johnson’s touchdown pass to Paysour was his 49th touchdown of his career and second of the season.

• The Tar Heels’ 19-play touchdown drive in the third quarter was the longest drive of the season.

• Ten different Tar Heels had a reception in the game, the first time with double-digit pass catchers since James Madison in 2024.

Defensive

• On the first drive, the Carolina defense allowed its first touchdown since the fourth quarter of the Week One matchup with TCU.

• Will Hardy led Carolina with eight tackles on the day. Hardy’s fourth-quarter tackle for loss was his third career TFL.

• Defensive back Gavin Gibson eclipsed 100 career tackles in the contest.

• Jalon Thompson posted the lone pass breakup for Carolina, the first of Thompson’s career.

Special Teams

• Rece Verhoff nailed a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter, adding to his streak of 10-straight field goal makes.

• Verhoff is a perfect 5-5 on the season and 9-9 on PATs, becoming the first UNC kicker to post a perfect month of September since Noah Burnette in 2022.

Up Next

• The Tar Heels are idle next weekend, the first of two bye weeks in 2025 for Carolina.

• Up next, Carolina will host Clemson in the Tar Heels’ Atlantic Coast Conference opener.

• Kick time and television designation between Carolina and the Tigers will be announced by the league office Monday morning (Sept. 22).