North Carolina vs. UConn
Saturday, December 28, 2024
11:00 a.m. ET | ESPN
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park | Boston, Mass.

North Carolina (6-6, 3-5 ACC)

Interim head coach: Freddie Kitchens

Record at UNC: 0-0-0
Career record: 0-0-0

UConn Huskies (8-4)

Head Coach: Jim Mora (Washington, 1984)
Record at UConn: 17-20 (3rd season)

TV: ESPN

Play-by-Play: Chris Cotter
Analyst: Mark Herzlich
Sideline: Coley Harvey

Radio – Tar Heel Sports Network

Local: WCHL-FM 97.9 (Chapel Hill) | WCHL-AM 1360 (Chapel Hill)
Sirius: 81
Play-by-Play: Jones Angell
Analysts: Bryn Renner and Joe Jauch
Part-time job: Lee Pace
Pre-Game Show: Dave Nathan & Na’ Brown

Series story

All-time series record: UNC leads 3-0 *Two wins were later vacated.
Last meeting: North Carolina won 12-10 (2009, Storrs) *Win was later voided.

Shipping to Boston

Before the Tar Heels usher in a new era of Carolina football, this is what they will be hoping for
Finish the 2024 season with a win over UConn at legendary Fenway Park. The Tar Heels
and Huskies have not faced each other since the 2009 season and this is the first time
Matchup at a neutral site between the two schools.

A win would…
» Give Carolina its third straight winning season and fifth in six seasons.
» Give the Tar Heels their first bowl game win since the 2019 Military Bowl.
» Cement Freddie Kitchens‘ first win as a college head coach.
» Extend UNC’s winning streak against UConn to four.



Tylee Strong
To honor their teammate, members of the wide receiver room decided that a different member of the receiver corps will wear Tylee’s number 13 in each game, beginning with the Oct. 12 contest against Georgia Tech, for the remainder of the season. JJ Jones, Kobe Paysour, Christian HamiltonAnd Chris Culliver I’ve worn the number 13 jersey so far this season.



My “O” My

Omarion Hampton finished the season with the second-most rushing yards in the country (1,660). Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty of Boise St. (2,497) was the only running back to pass Hampton this season. Additionally, Hampton will finish his UNC career ranked third all-time and fourth all-time with 40 touchdowns scored
3,565 career rushing yards.



Thirty threshold
Over the last six seasons, the Tar Heels have a record of 76-11 when scoring more than 30 points and 49-2 when scoring more than 40 points



All-American duo

Omarion Hampton And Willie Lampkin were each named All-Americans by several media outlets.

»Omarion Hampton

• AFCA All-America (1st team)
• AP All-America (2nd team)
• Sports News All-America (2nd Team)
• Walter Camp All-America (2nd team)
• CBS Sports All-America (2nd Team)
• CFB Network All-America (2nd team)
• Sports Illustrated All-America (HM)

»Willie Lampkin

• AFCA All-America (2nd team)
• AP All-America (1st team)
• Sports News All-America (1st Team)
• Walter Camp All-America (2nd team)
• Action Network All-America (2nd Team)
• The Athletic All-America (2nd team)
• CFB Network All-America (1st team)
• Sports Illustrated All-America (HM)
• USA Today All-America (2nd Team)

A new era

On December 11, the University of North Carolina announced the hiring of the legendary football coach. Bill Belichick. Belichick is a three-time AP NFL Coach of the Year (2003, 2007, 2010) and has a 333-178 (.652) record as an NFL head coach and is just 14 NFL wins away from the overall wins record. He is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team in the 2000s and 2010s, was also a member of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, and holds the record for most NFL playoff wins
(31).

Numbers you should know

2,500 – Jacolby Criswell needs just 48 yards to surpass 2,500 yards this season despite not starting until week three.



0 – Willie Lampkin is the top-rated offensive guard in Pro Football Focus’ Power 4 and hasn’t given up a single sack this season.



3 – Carolina has three interception returns for touchdowns this season, one shy of the program record of four set in both 2008 and 2009.



6 – UNC has six total non-offensive touchdowns this season; three interception returns, a blocked punt return, a punt return and a kickoff return.



32.3 – The Tar Heel offense averaged 34.5 points per game last season. UNC finished the season ranked 20th in the FBS in scoring.



1,000 – North Carolina players have totaled six 1,000-yard rushing seasons since 2019. That’s the most of any team in the country.