UNC Football

Complete coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels Football.

Running Back Jaylen McGill's Readiness, Short Memory Make the Difference for UNC Football

North Carolina’s running back rotation suffered an immediate blow Saturday when Benjamin Hall exited the Tar Heels’ matchup at Duke with a hamstring injury on the opening drive. With their leading rusher unavailable, the Tar Heels turned to sophomore Jaylen McGill, the least-utilized member of UNC's backfield rotation entering Saturday’s contest. (Inside Carolina)

Defensive Lineman Nicco Maggio's, Increased Workload and Preparation

The Tar Heels had to dig into the depth chart for some extra help along the defensive line before Saturday's win at Duke, meaning. Star nose tackle Isaiah Johnson was limited by injury, so the bulk of the job fell on redshirt freshman Nicco Maggio. The Buford, GA, native accounted for two tackles in the 24-20 win, pushing his season tackle total to 12. (TarHeel247)

UNC debuts in men’s soccer poll; every fall sports team except football now ranked

Aside from the surging football team, every other North Carolina team in a fall sport is now ranked, with the men’s soccer team debuting at No. 16 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Tar Heels fell off the top spot in the women’s soccer poll but only to No. 2, while the field hockey team moved up one spot to No. 9 and the volleyball team held at No. 23. (Tar Heel Tribune)

UNC Safety Greg Smith Is Everywhere

Defensive players don't put points on the board apart from the occasional pick-six or fumble return. But points prevented are just important as points scored, as UNC safety Greg Smith illustrated in the Tar Heels' 24-20 win at Duke with two plays that kept the Blue Devils out of the end zone. UNC head coach Bill Belichick has touted the versatility of Smith. (GoHeels.com)

From Syracuse to North Carolina: Derek McDonald Set to Face His Former Team

When North Carolina hosts Syracuse on Saturday night, the matchup will carry extra significance for one of the Tar Heels' defensive leaders. For graduate linebacker Derek McDonald, Syracuse is where he spent five seasons developing as a college football player. Now, in his first season at UNC, McDonald is one of the ACC's most productive linebackers. (Tar Heel Blue)

Video: IC Podcast - UNC Football Halfway Home

UNC Football sits at 4-2 overall halfway through the 2026 season and has exceeded expectations for nearly everyone that follows the Tar Heel program. Inside Carolina's Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley put the halfway point into context and what's ahead for Bill Belichick's team. (View Video)

Jaylen McGill on the Game Winner vs. Duke, Déjà Vu, and More

UNC running back Jaylen McGill rushed for a touchdown at Wallace Wade Stadium when he was in fifth grade, during the Carolina Bowl, where a young McGill earned MVP of the game. Years later, a touchdown in that same endzone produced the game-winning score over Duke. "I like the way Belichick phrased it. He phrased it by saying it was déjà vu." (TarHeel247)

What is Belichickian? He’s never used the term

Some have described the last two gritty UNC road victories as "Belichickian." Just don’t ask him what it means. "I don’t know. You’d have to ask them," Belichick said, referring to commentators who use the term. "I’ve never used that term, so you’d have to ask the experts who have put that word into the dictionary how Webster defines it. I really don’t know." (Tar Heel Tribune)

2026 UNC Football Opponent Preview: Syracuse

Bill Belichick is not fooled by Syracuse’s poor record, noting that the Orange are "a few plays away" from being 6-0 as opposed to 2-4. Belichick is not off base: the Orange’s four losses have come by a combined 28 points, with a 14-point loss at Pitt accounting for half that total. Syracuse lost by three to Cal, three at Virginia, and eight against Louisville. (Chapelboro.com)

UNC beats Duke: Winners, Losers, and Honorable Mentions

Winners: Jaylen McGill took some time to get warmed up, but he’s someone that the staff has had their eyes on. On the last drive, though, he had his signature moments. On a fourth and four he rushed for 16 to keep things moving, and then right out of the two minute timeout he took the ball and scampered 24 yards for the game-winning touchdown. (Tar Heel Blog)

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